Cuba is reeling from Hurricane Melissa, now the US is adding a brutal new crisis that will halt all air traffic to the island nation

Cuba is facing an absolute nightmare scenario right now, warning international airlines that the nation will run completely out of aircraft fuel by Monday, as reported by The Hill. This brutal new crisis is the direct result of a massive oil blockade imposed by the United States, which is effectively halting all air traffic to the island nation.

Two separate sources confirmed that the Cuban government has informed international carriers that they simply won’t have the fuel necessary to keep planes moving. This massive fuel shortage is a direct outcome of President Trump’s recent statements regarding the flow of energy and money into the communist country. Last month, President Trump suggested that Cuba should enter a deal with the U.S. following military action in Venezuela, which included an American oil embargo that has already put enormous pressure on the island.

President Trump laid down the law on his Truth Social platform. “THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA – ZERO!” he wrote. “I strongly suggest they make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.” This isn’t the first time the president has threatened this type of action. Back in late January, President Trump had already warned about imposing tariffs on any countries or groups that continued to do business with, or provide oil to, Cuba.

The U.S. pressure on Cuba comes amid already heightened tensions across the Caribbean

These strained relations are boiling over due to various factors, including the U.S. military’s increased pressure on Venezuela, which culminated in the capture of its leader, and recent strikes that targeted alleged drug boats in the region. Cuba has long had strained relations with the U.S., but this oil embargo is a severe economic blow that seems designed to force their hand.

What makes this situation even more tragic is that the country is already struggling to recover from a massive natural disaster. Cuba is currently suffering through a severe humanitarian crisis that has its roots in Hurricane Melissa, a historically strong storm that absolutely slammed the island nation last fall.

It’s a contradictory situation as well because even while the U.S. is applying this brutal economic pressure via the fuel blockade, the government is also providing aid. Last week, the State Department announced that it would begin delivering an extra $6 million in supplies specifically to help Cuba manage the humanitarian crisis created by Hurricane Melissa.

It’s tough to wrap your head around a policy that simultaneously sends millions in aid while also imposing a blockade that cripples the country’s ability to function. This fuel shortage isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s going to severely impact the island’s already limited ability to move people, supplies, and necessary goods, worsening the crisis caused by that historic storm.