Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro has put forward a proposal for the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) to establish an international energy and electricity mission to aid Cuba amidst one of its most severe energy crises in recent history. The island nation is grappling with persistent breakdowns in its thermal power plants and a dire shortage of fuel.
The initiative, as reported by the EFE news agency, was unveiled by Maduro at the XXV Summit of the bloc, broadcasted on the state-run Venezolana de Televisión. During the summit, he shared with member countries the idea of forming a "Special Support International Energy and Electricity Mission for the People of Cuba," which he said is inspired by the earlier Mission Miracle.
Maduro emphasized the mission's intention to offer "extraordinary support" to the island in its struggle against the "blockade and the impact on all energy and electricity matters," though he did not specify the nature of the assistance or the resources that would be involved.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez promptly endorsed the proposal, lauding it on social media platform X as a demonstration of "solidarity and cooperation among brotherly peoples," and underscored ALBA's role as a resistance mechanism against the United States.
Cuba is currently enduring power outages lasting up to 20 hours daily in various regions, stemming from outdated power plants, a shortage of foreign currency, and inadequate maintenance.
According to EFE, independent experts attribute the crisis to poor state management and decades of underinvestment in the national electric system, which has been entirely under government control since 1959.
The regime of Miguel Díaz-Canel blames U.S. sanctions and Washington's "energy blockade," while protests over power cuts and food shortages are escalating across several provinces.
Maduro's proposal aims to strengthen the political and economic alliance between Caracas and Havana at a time when both administrations are facing internal and external pressures, seeking to demonstrate regional unity against what they perceive as an "imperial threat."
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis and International Support
What is the purpose of the proposed energy mission by Nicolás Maduro?
The proposed mission aims to provide extraordinary support to Cuba in overcoming its energy crisis, attributed to breakdowns in power plants and fuel shortages. It seeks to enhance solidarity and cooperation among ALBA nations.
How are independent experts explaining Cuba's energy crisis?
Experts point to the Cuban government's poor management and chronic underinvestment in the electrical infrastructure as key reasons for the ongoing crisis.
How does the Cuban government explain the power outages?
Cuban authorities attribute the electricity shortages to U.S. sanctions and what they describe as an "energy blockade" by Washington.