Trump Administration Weighs Naval Blockade to Halt Oil Flow to Cuban Regime, Reports POLITICO

The Trump administration is contemplating additional strategies to exert pressure on the Cuban government, potentially including a comprehensive blockade of oil imports to the island, as reported by three individuals familiar with internal deliberations to POLITICO.

This proposal, which remains unapproved, represents an escalation from prior announcements by President Donald Trump aimed at stemming the flow of oil from Venezuela to Cuba. It is part of a package of measures that might be presented to the president.

According to sources cited by POLITICO, the concept has been championed by critics of the Cuban government within the administration itself and reportedly enjoys backing from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to two out of the three individuals consulted, all of whom requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the discussions.

POLITICO notes that a decision has not yet been reached on whether to enforce the blockade.

One source described energy as the "chokehold" needed to "end" the regime, asserting that, in the view of those advocating for this escalation, the overthrow of the communist government would be an "event" anticipated to occur by 2026.

The report highlights ongoing debates within the U.S. government about whether such drastic measures are necessary.

Sources warn that while the reduction in shipments has already impacted the Cuban economy, a total blockade of crude imports could trigger a humanitarian crisis, a possibility that has led some administration members to oppose the move.

As cited by one of the sources, any potential effort would be justified under the 1994 LIBERTAD Act, also known as Helms-Burton, which codifies elements of the U.S. embargo on commercial and financial transactions with Cuba.

POLITICO reported that the Cuban Embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comment, and the White House also declined to answer questions about whether it is considering blocking all oil imports to Cuba.

Currently, Cuba imports approximately 60% of its oil supply. The island was heavily reliant on Venezuela until the Trump administration began seizing sanctioned shipments from that country. Recently, Mexico has become the primary supplier, although it charges for the oil and lacks the capacity to fully address the growing scarcity.

For now, the information describes internal discussions and a measure under evaluation, not a policy that has been implemented.

The report emphasizes that it is undecided whether the blockade will be approved, and it is part of options that could be elevated to the president.

Such a measure would contradict the U.S. administration's current decision to allow Mexico to continue supplying fuel to the island, as revealed by CBS News.

The report, authored by journalist Margaret Brennan, highlights a clear divide between Trump's political messaging and Washington's practical policy.

According to statements from Energy Secretary Chris Wright and another senior U.S. official, the administration has not blocked Mexican crude shipments to Cuba, even though the president publicly vowed to cut off all economic lifelines to the Castro regime.

The government of Claudia Sheinbaum has defended these shipments as "humanitarian aid," while Mexican oil tankers, like the Ocean Mariner, continue to dock at Cuban ports amid the daily power outages faced by millions of families on the island.

CBS News reports that Washington is aware that a total energy blockade could further cripple Cuba's already faltering electrical system, a scenario the United States is not immediately pursuing.