Global Dispatches -- World News That Matters Is Cuba Next?
Mar 23, 2026
James Bosworth, writer of the Latin America Risk Report and analyst of regional politics, breaks down U.S.-Cuba tensions and recent grid collapse. He traces seven decades of policy, explains current sanctions and oil shortages, outlines secret Washington-Havana talks, and weighs geopolitical players like Venezuela, China, and Florida politics.
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Why Cuba Has Survived Seven Decades
- U.S. policy toward Cuba has long aimed to overthrow the regime and is embedded in Congress and South Florida politics.
- That history plus decades of external patrons explains why previous predictions of Cuba's fall have repeatedly failed.
Oil Embargo Is Strangling Cuba's Grid
- Cuba's power grid and economy are highly oil dependent and have relied on subsidized oil from patrons like Venezuela and Mexico.
- Trump's sanctions blocking Venezuelan shipments and warning other suppliers have created fuel shortages, nationwide blackouts, and long lines at gas stations.
Talks Are Happening But Details Are Murky
- Reports indicate U.S. and Cuban officials are engaged in direct talks, but public information is sparse and based on leaks and comments.
- Confirmed reports include a meeting between members of Marco Rubio's team and Raul Castro's grandson, yet key terms remain unclear.