Cuba has plunged into darkness following a severe nationwide power outage triggered by the United States’ strict oil blockade. Speaking at the White House on Monday, US President Donald Trump warned that Washington could either “liberate” or “occupy” Cuba, claiming the island nation was now in a weakened state. The AFP reported the remarks from Havana as the crisis deepened across the Caribbean country of 9.6 million people.

Cuba’s national electricity company, Unión Nacional Eléctrica, said the entire grid had collapsed, leaving many areas without power for up to 20 hours a day. The oil import halt has crippled the energy sector, disrupting transport and tourism. Following political changes in Venezuela, the US maintained its oil embargo, cutting off supplies since early January. In response, Havana introduced policy shifts allowing Cuban expatriates to invest and own businesses, with Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Oscar Pérez-Oliva expressing readiness for trade with US firms and diaspora investors.

Public frustration has grown amid fuel shortages, food and medicine scarcity, and sporadic protests. President Miguel Díaz-Canel acknowledged citizens’ anger but condemned violence as unacceptable.