Overview of UNLOCKED: The Siege of Cuba feat. Liz Oliva Fernández
This episode of UNLOCKED (Chapo Trap House) features Havana-based reporter Liz Oliva Fernández (Belly of the Beast). It focuses on Cuba’s escalating energy and humanitarian crisis resulting from tighter U.S. sanctions and pressure on third countries to stop selling oil to Cuba. Fernández explains how the shortages are affecting electricity, transport, healthcare, tourism and everyday life, discusses the political forces behind U.S. policy (including the Cuban‑American lobby), and outlines Cuba’s stopgap responses—especially a fast push toward solar and other renewables.
Main takeaways
- Cuba is facing acute fuel and electricity shortages after reductions in imported oil; local oil production is small and low quality and cannot meet demand.
- U.S. sanctions and diplomatic pressure on other countries to avoid selling fuel to Cuba have intensified vulnerability, limiting Cuba’s options to import energy and medical supplies.
- The immediate humanitarian effects include rolling blackouts, reduced public transportation and services, interrupted in‑person education, difficulty accessing medicines and basic goods, and mounting anxiety among the population.
- Cuba has rapidly expanded solar/renewable capacity (reported from ~250 MW to ~1,000–1,250 MW in under a year) and relies on renewables to prevent electrical system collapse—but renewables do not yet fully cover demand (daytime vs. nighttime generation and storage limits).
- Healthcare is severely affected: Cuba reportedly once made ~60% of its consumed medicines and now lacks many medications and raw materials; COVID vaccine development succeeded technically but shortages of syringes and inputs hampered deployment and exports.
- U.S. policy is described by Fernández as explicitly seeking regime change; she points to the influence of a powerful, bipartisan Cuban‑American political bloc (e.g., Marco Rubio, Mario Díaz‑Balart, María Elvira Salazar) in shaping sanctions.
- Sanctions are framed as collective punishment that hurts ordinary Cubans and can limit global access to Cuban medical products that could help patients in other countries.
- Tourism—Cuba’s main source of hard currency—is being damaged by travel restrictions and reduced flights, worsening the economic picture.
- There are migration risks: destabilization could increase flows toward the U.S., contradicting U.S. priorities on border control.
Timeline & current conditions (as presented)
- Fernández reports no regular foreign oil shipments to Cuba since an oil cutoff to Venezuela in December, followed by U.S. moves in January to tighten oil restrictions affecting Cuba.
- Immediate governmental responses in Cuba: rationing electricity, cutting non‑essential public services (transport, schools/universities moved partially online), and prioritizing electricity for essential services.
- Situation is described as “stable in the middle of crisis”: blackouts are less severe than worst fears but uncertainty and anxiety remain; the government is searching for Plan B solutions.
Sectoral impacts
Energy
- Cuba produces a small amount of poor‑quality oil domestically; imports were primarily from Venezuela and Mexico previously.
- Renewables expansion accelerated: daytime solar reportedly supplies about 10% of electricity; Cuba scaled solar capacity rapidly to help stabilize the grid.
- Limits: solar generation is daytime‑only without widespread storage; grid balance (supply vs. demand) remains fragile.
Healthcare & pharmaceuticals
- Production of medicines has fallen dramatically (guest claims from ~60% to near zero production for domestic needs).
- Shortages include raw materials, syringes and other inputs—even when Cuba develops effective treatments/vaccines, sanctions and designation on the “state sponsors of terrorism” list deter international suppliers and customers.
- The designation greatly raises transaction risk and reduces willingness of companies/countries to trade with Cuba.
Everyday life & social effects
- People rely on charcoal/wood for cooking due to lack of gas; makes daily survival harder, especially for households with children or elderly.
- Reduced public services, shortened work hours for many state employees, internet outages during blackouts complicate remote schooling and work.
- Public mood: resilience and calm mixed with fatigue, anxiety and fear of worsening conditions.
Economy & tourism
- Tourism season (Canadians, Russians and others) is being undermined at peak time; loss of tourism revenue compounds shortages.
- Sanctions are described as adaptive: whenever Cuba finds a workaround, new measures target that avenue—so pressure escalates over time.
Politics, lobby power & international pressure
- Fernández characterizes the Cuban‑American political lobby as powerful and bipartisan, with members now embedded in positions of government influence (not just external lobbyists).
- She contends that some U.S. policymakers openly support regime change in Cuba and use sanctions as a tool to induce popular revolt.
- Smaller and regional nations are pressured by U.S. economic leverage not to sell oil or maintain normal relations with Cuba; Mexico and its leadership are discussed as attempting a cautious balancing act.
- Historical cooperation (e.g., drug interdiction) between the U.S. and Cuba has been disrupted; Fernández argues Cuba is an effective regional partner against narcotrafficking, despite U.S. portrayals.
Cuba’s responses and international options
- Rapid buildout of renewable energy (solar) is Cuba’s main medium‑term defense against fuel shortages; it needs funding, technology and storage solutions.
- Potential suppliers like Russia or China are mentioned as options, but logistics, U.S. pressure, and transaction risk make those arrangements uncertain.
- Fernández calls for international solidarity and opposition to sanctions—especially humanitarian exemptions—and greater willingness by countries and companies to engage with Cuba despite U.S. pressure.
Notable quotes and assertions (from the interview)
- “They want to suffocate the Cuban people. They want to starve the Cuban people… so miserable that the Cuban people want to overthrow their own government.” — Liz Oliva Fernández
- “When they put Cuba on the state sponsor of terrorism list… that was a death sentence for Cuba.” — Liz Oliva Fernández
- “The sanctions are collective punishment.” — Liz Oliva Fernández
- Rapid renewables expansion: Cuba reportedly increased solar capacity from ~250 MW to ~1,000–1,250 MW in under a year (as described by Fernández).
Caveats & context
- The interview reflects Fernández’s reporting and perspective from Havana; many political claims (intentions of U.S. policy, specific legal characterizations) are presented as analysis or interpretation rather than independently verified facts.
- The remote interview suffered connectivity issues near the end; portions were cut off.
Suggested actions / policy implications (implied in the conversation)
- Advocate for humanitarian exemptions for medicines, medical supplies, syringes and energy‑critical inputs.
- Support funding and technology transfers for renewable energy and storage in Cuba to reduce fuel dependence.
- Encourage diplomatic engagement to de‑escalate pressure on third‑party suppliers and restore cooperation on public‑health and security matters (e.g., narcotics interdiction).
- Amplify diverse Cuban voices (including Afro‑Cuban and younger emigrant perspectives) in U.S. media and policymaking discussions to better reflect constituency complexity.
Final note
Fernández’s reporting highlights how sanctions and diplomatic pressure ripple across every facet of Cuban life—energy, health, education, tourism—and how Cuba’s push into renewables is a pragmatic adaptation under duress. The episode frames the crisis not merely as a technical shortage but as a political strategy with wide humanitarian consequences.