Canada Offers Aid to Cuba as U.S. Tightens Oil Embargo

Canada announced plans to help Cuba deal with severe fuel shortages caused by Washington's intensified efforts to block oil shipments to the island nation. The U.N. has warned that Cuba's energy crisis could lead to a humanitarian disaster if assistance doesn't arrive soon.

Canadian officials announced Monday they are developing a support package for Cuba as the island nation faces critical fuel shortages resulting from intensified U.S. efforts to cut off oil deliveries.

The Trump administration has ramped up its pressure strategy against the Communist nation, a longtime adversary of the United States, over recent weeks.

President Trump’s government has taken steps to prevent all petroleum products from reaching Cuba, including supplies from Venezuelan sources, leading to increased costs for food and transportation while creating serious fuel shortages and extended power outages.

“We are preparing a plan to assist. We are not prepared at this point to provide any further details of an announcement,” stated Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand during Monday’s briefing, declining to specify what type of aid the assistance package would contain.

United Nations officials have cautioned that failure to address Cuba’s energy requirements could trigger a humanitarian emergency. Canadian authorities indicated last week they were closely watching Cuba’s situation and expressed worry about “the increasing risk of a humanitarian crisis” developing there.

Following the U.S. military’s capture of former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro during a fatal operation in January, Trump has grown more confident, frequently discussing potential action against Cuba and applying pressure to its government.

Relations between Washington and Ottawa have also been strained during Trump’s presidency over various issues including trade duties, Trump’s statements regarding Greenland, Ottawa’s efforts to improve relations with Beijing, and Prime Minister Mark Carney’s comments that “middle powers” should work together to prevent being dominated by U.S. influence.

Trump has declared “Cuba will be failing pretty soon,” noting that Venezuela, previously the island’s primary oil provider, has not recently delivered petroleum or financial support to Cuba.

The United Nations human rights division has declared that the U.S. operation that resulted in Maduro’s capture violated international law. Human rights analysts describe Trump’s foreign policy approach and his emphasis on accessing Venezuelan oil while pressuring Cuba as resembling imperialist tactics.