Trump Threatens Cuba Takeover During Power Crisis

March 17, 2026 | 09:55 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested he might take over Cuba after the island nation plunged into a total blackout following the collapse of its national power grid amid a Washington-imposed oil blockade.

"You know, all my life I've been hearing about the United States and Cuba. When will the United States do it?" Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday, as quoted by Antara.

"I do believe I’ll be … having the honour of taking Cuba. Whether I free it, take it – think I could do anything I want with it. You want to know the truth. They’re a very weakened nation right now," Trump added.

There were no immediate comments from Havana regarding Trump's statements.

The threat comes as the Union Nacional Electrica de Cuba (UNE) announced a "total disconnection" of the national power grid, leaving 10 million people without electricity. The state-owned utility said it was working to restore supply and is currently investigating the collapse, noting no failures were present in operating units at the time.

Government media later reported that teams had restored power to 5 percent of Havana, roughly 42,000 customers, and several hospitals. Officials stated the communication sector is the next priority, though they warned that the small circuits restored thus far remain unstable and could fail again.

This marks Cuba's third major power outage in the last four months. While the island's aging grid has deteriorated for years, the government has largely blamed the crisis on a U.S. energy blockade after Trump warned in January of tariffs on any country supplying oil to Cuba.

The administration has openly stated it seeks regime change in the Communist-led nation, and no oil has been imported since January 9. Reuters reported that Cuba has received only two small vessels this year, citing vessel tracking data.

Earlier this month, a day-long blackout hit two-thirds of the country following damage at the Antonio Guiteras power plant, the island's largest. Another massive outage struck western Cuba in early December.

U.S. tactics are exacerbating longstanding economic hardships, fueling a humanitarian crisis marked by widespread scarcities of fuel, food, and medicine. The conditions sparked rare public unrest over the weekend, including the burning of Communist Party offices. Human rights groups have warned that these efforts to sow dissent are severely worsening living conditions.

Toms David Velazquez Felipe, a 61-year-old Havana resident, told the Associated Press (AP) that the constant blackouts are driving capable Cubans to flee. "What little we have to eat spoils. Our people are too old to keep suffering," he said.

Mercedes Velazquez, 71, also lamented the darkness. "We're here waiting to see what happens," she told AP, adding that she recently gave away fresh soup so it wouldn't go to waste. "Everything goes bad."

The Trump administration reportedly wants Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel to step down as Washington continues negotiations over the island's future, according to an AP report citing a U.S. official. The source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, did not specify whom Washington wants to take power.

Trump, who previously suggested a "friendly takeover," claimed on Sunday that Cuba wants to make a deal. His top officials have pledged to maintain a militaristic approach to Latin America, even as the U.S. engages in conflict with Iran alongside Israel.

Meanwhile, Diaz-Canel confirmed last week that his government has held talks with the Trump administration. Separately, his government on Monday invited Cuban-Americans and expatriates to invest in and own businesses on the island, including large-scale infrastructure projects.

Read: Cuba Hit by Island-Wide Blackout amid Trump Oil Blockade

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