Defense & Geopolitics — 2026-03-17
Cuba Plunged into Island-Wide Blackout After US Oil Blockade; Trump Muses Over 'Taking Cuba'
Cuba's national grid collapsed, cutting power to 11 million people after three months without oil shipments due to a US tanker blockade. By Tuesday afternoon, 55% of Havana had power restored. Russia pledged assistance. Trump publicly mused about 'taking Cuba,' escalating rhetoric against a state already in humanitarian crisis. This was Cuba's third and most severe blackout in four months.