The United States government announced on Monday that it is closely observing the severe power outage that has gripped Cuba in recent days. While the U.S. is open to providing aid to the island, it emphasized that the Cuban regime has not yet asked for assistance. "We are concerned about the potential humanitarian impact on the Cuban people. As we've seen over the years, the economic conditions in Cuba, stemming from prolonged mismanagement of policies and resources, have undoubtedly increased the hardships faced by the Cuban population," stated Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House Press Secretary, during a press briefing, as reported by the EFE news agency.
The Biden-Harris Administration is "closely monitoring" the energy crisis affecting the island, according to the spokesperson. Contrary to the claims made by Cuban authorities, the U.S. has argued that it is "not responsible" for the blackouts or the overall energy situation in Cuba. Jean-Pierre noted that the Cuban government "has not requested any assistance so far," but should they do so, the U.S. would not rule out offering help. In such a scenario, she mentioned that the "next appropriate steps" would be evaluated.
Last Friday night, Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel once again blamed the United States for the collapse of the island's electrical system, which culminated in a complete blackout across Cuba. This event has yet to be fully resolved. According to Díaz-Canel, this situation is "yet another demonstration of all the problems caused by the embargo, and the impacts of the blockade." He argued that some claim it is due to inefficiency or an intent to inconvenience the public, continuing to emphasize this U.S. policy towards Cuba, which he noted many prefer not to discuss.
The precarious state of Cuba's National Electrical System (SEN), combined with fuel shortages and a lack of foreign currency to import resources, has adversely affected the island's power generation capabilities. Although power outages have been a common occurrence for Cubans over the years, their frequency has increased, exacerbating public discontent and altering daily life.
This Monday, the NGO Justicia 11J reported at least 28 minor protests in seven provinces across Cuba over the past three days, with the majority occurring in Havana.