Fact Check: Did the US starve millions in Cuba with an oil blockade?
WASHINGTON, DC: Social media claims circulated that a US oil blockade was starving millions in Cuba amid a worsening energy crisis.
Since early 2026, the United States has effectively cut off oil supplies to Cuba by threatening tariffs on countries that sell fuel to the island and halting Venezuelan shipments after US forces ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Cuba’s main oil supplier.
Claim: The US is starving 11 million people in Cuba
In March 2026, internet users shared a claim that a US oil blockade was causing starvation in Cuba, saying millions were suffering without power, food, or water. Many social media users, including American singer Camila Cabello (who was born in Havana), spread posts saying people on the island were starving.
A user on Threads claimed that the United States was starving '11 million people in Cuba,' saying power was out, food was rotting, water pumps were down, and sewage was overflowing, and accusing the US Navy of blocking Russian humanitarian aid. They also said that the US has been trying to harm Cuba for decades because the island resisted American control, and that recent actions cut off Cuba’s last major source of oil, making “everything fall apart.”
In a follow‑up post, the user asked when starving civilians became acceptable in US foreign policy, alleging that civilians and children were suffering while US leaders benefited.
These claims appeared on platforms like Threads, X, Facebook, and Reddit.
Fact Check: False, claims are unsupported
Although the Threads post got a lot of attention and many people commented, its claims don’t match what credible reports say. Cuba is experiencing major fuel and power shortages after oil imports dropped sharply, partly because of US actions that have limited Cuba’s access to oil from Venezuela and other suppliers.
These energy problems have caused blackouts and made life harder, but there is no verified evidence that a US oil blockade is deliberately starving “millions” of people or that humanitarian aid has been blocked as claimed online. The online claim mixes some real issues with exaggerated statements.
The United Nations expressed concern as media reported that people in Cuba were having trouble transporting and storing food due to a lack of fuel for vehicles and electricity for refrigerators.
Reports also said that both Mexico and the US sent humanitarian aid to Cuba after the US imposed tariffs. However, it was unclear if this aid was enough to prevent problems like food shortages and potential starvation.
