The United Nations has put forward a $94.1 million (€81.4 million) “action plan” to help crisis-hit Cuba, including measures to track fuel use, as it seeks agreement with the United States to permit energy shipments for humanitarian purposes, UN coordinator in Cuba Francisco Pichon said Wednesday.
Pichon warned that if Cuba’s fuel reserves run out, the country could face a rapid deterioration with potential loss of life. He said the plan’s feasibility hinges on securing fuel, and that it includes a “fuel traceability model” designed to provide a pathway for humanitarian access to energy supplies.
The island’s shortages deepened after former US President Donald Trump warned in late January that countries supplying oil to Cuba could face tariffs, and repeatedly pushed for political change in Havana. The effective blockade has exacerbated Cuba’s energy and economic crisis, hitting the power sector, tourism, airlines and basic civic services such as sanitation. The UN has reported thousands of cancelled surgeries and worsening air quality as people resort to burning wood for cooking amid power outages and fuel scarcities.
Washington and Havana are in early-stage talks, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said, noting that former leader Raúl Castro has also been involved. In an interview with Spanish leftist politician Pablo Iglesias, Díaz-Canel said the first step is to establish a channel for dialogue, then build common agendas and demonstrate commitment to follow through on agreed programs.
The Trump administration has conditioned an end to the blockade on political concessions from Cuba, including the release of political prisoners and moves toward political and economic liberalization. Trump has publicly spoken of regime change and has suggested a “friendly takeover” of the island, saying he would have “the honor of taking Cuba, soon.”
Meanwhile, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced Mexico will uphold a bilateral agreement allowing Cuban doctors to work in Mexico, calling it “a bilateral agreement that helps Mexico a lot.” Several countries in the region have ended such arrangements under US pressure; US officials including Senator Marco Rubio have described Cuba’s medical missions as a form of “forced labor” or “human trafficking.” The White House cited Rubio’s June 2025 remarks when it imposed restrictions on Central American officials linked to the Cuban program.
The UN continues negotiations with Washington to secure fuel exemptions for humanitarian aid, while Cuban authorities emphasize the need for a structured dialogue to address the crisis and its political dimensions.
Edited by: Alex Berry
