LatinNews Daily - 05 February 2026

*Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesperson for the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres, has stated that the “Secretary-General is extremely concerned about the humanitarian situation in Cuba, which will worsen, if not collapse, if its oil needs go unmet”. Guterres' concern follows the recent executive order issued by US President Donald Trump which stipulates tariffs will be placed on imports from countries which supply Cuba with oil. The measure piles particular pressure on Mexico which has reportedly emerged as the main oil supplier to the island after Venezuela oil imports were stopped following the US military incursion in Caracas last month, removal of former president Nicolás Maduro (2013-2026), and US assertion of control over Venezuela’s oil sector. In the latest sign of crisis afflicting Cuba’s energy system, yesterday the state power company, Unión Eléctrica (UNE), reported that a failure on the power grid left four provinces on the east of the island without electricity – Holguín (which was partially affected), and Granma, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantánamo. Last week British newspaper the Financial Times (FT) reported that Cuba only had enough oil to last for 15 to 20 days.