Protests erupted across Cuba following the third nationwide power outage this year, exacerbating widespread discontent over fuel shortages, rolling blackouts, and dwindling supplies of essential goods.
The latest unplanned electricity cut left parts of the country in darkness for extended periods. Some rural areas experienced outages lasting up to 70 hours, while urban centers faced planned blackouts of up to 30 hours. The state electricity company has not provided a specific reason for the unplanned incident, and by Tuesday evening local time, power had not been fully restored to all areas, including the city of Santiago de Cuba.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel acknowledged the public's frustration, citing shortages of transportation, food, and medicine, in addition to the lengthy power cuts. However, he directed citizens to direct their anger towards the U.S. government, which he accused of being behind the disruptions.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Michael Waltz, countered these accusations, placing the blame squarely on the Cuban government. Speaking at a UN General Assembly meeting, Waltz urged Havana to "change your ways and turn the lights back on for your people," adding that "there always seems to be enough power for the Cuban dictatorship."
Cuba's foreign minister, Bruno Rodríguez, accused the U.S. of engaging in "multi-dimensional, non-conventional warfare" against the island, describing the actions as increasingly severe over the past seven months. Relations between the two nations, historically strained, have reportedly deteriorated sharply since the beginning of the year.
According to reports, the Trump administration has imposed new sanctions on Cuba and an effective blockade on oil shipments, threatening tariffs on countries that supply fuel to the island. The U.S. has also leveled murder charges against former Cuban President Raúl Castro.
Despite public exchanges, private talks between the U.S. and Cuba have been ongoing. The Cuban foreign minister stated that these discussions have shown no progress but indicated an openness to dialogue based on mutual respect and non-interference in Cuba's internal affairs.