Trump administration weighs naval blockade to halt Cuban oil imports

[Hammer Smokin']

11 hours ago, BrightonCorgi said:

Things could be a lot worse.  

It depends on what set of eyes you are watching from. 

 

[M777]

As expected, Mexico has no interest in losing trade agreements and paying tariffs. 
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/mexico-seek-diplomatic-solution-after-us-threatens-cuba-oil-tariffs-2026-01-30/

Also, as of Jan 21st 2026, the US has seized 7 sanctioned oil tankers linked to Venezuela. The tankers were simply overtaken by U.S. forces, no oil tankers have been bombed or otherwise destroyed to the best of my knowledge. 
https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2026/1/21/us-seizes-a-seventh-venezuela-linked-oil-tanker

Under these circumstances, I seriously doubt any country would be bold enough to risk more tariffs and loss of tankers over trying to get crude to the Cuban regime. 

[griller]

I acknowledge that this is a warped view, and my heart aches for the Cuban people and this entire situation. I can only assume that this is the way this administration has chosen to starve the military of fuel to the point to where they can't operate to enforce/keep the current regime in place. Major military hardware requires petrol, tech infrastructure as well. No power, no fuel, then we're back to a military with the fighting capacity of the Napoleonic army with automatic rifles (doubt they have the black power to fire a cannon if they could even transport one since they're theoretically out of fuel). Maybe they eventually lose a fight with what's left of the healthy/young Cuban population with pointed sticks, etc. by simply returning to their families & leaving their post.

[El Presidente]

2 hours ago, M777 said:

Under these circumstances, I seriously doubt any country would be bold enough to risk more tariffs and loss of tankers over trying to get crude to the Cuban regime. 

I agree. 

China may agitate to escalate a crisis (pure theatre) and make the US administration look worse internationally than it does currently. 

If the "tariff" stick is waved, China should join with Canada and India and threaten to dump their US Bond Holdings. Now that would be a blowtorch moment. 

 

[JohnnyO]

Ya'll getting ahead of yourselves. The US is ready for another government shutdown tomorrow and one of the big points is the reckless spending going on without Congressional approval. Yeah, Rubio went if front of them with his explanation why they are doing things in a certain way. But they are going to cut them off. Rubio has stated not one soldier is going to set foot in Venezuela, I guess they are going to "run things" with a remote control. It was like he was reading a fairy tale to pre-schoolers: "The big bad wolf Maduro wanted to bite grandma with his narco-terrorist teeth, and Diaz-Canel sharpens them. So we had to react quickly, boys and girls". The truth is they are trying to work an inside straight and don't have 1/2 the cards yet. They have no plans, just talk. 

[MrBirdman]

12 hours ago, BrightonCorgi said:

It's pretty reasonable to think the military is prepared to use force. If a ship breaks the blockage, it's not going to get to its destination. We've seen this repeatedly with drug boats leaving Venezuela.

It’s not “reasonable” to assume the government will treat legally operating vessels from great powers the same as illegal swift boats from a minor one. I don’t think a blockade is viable for just that reason - economic sanctions are the most effective card they have to play, with much less risk. 

[M777]

11 hours ago, El Presidente said:

I agree. 

China may agitate to escalate a crisis (pure theatre) and make the US administration look worse internationally than it does currently. 

If the "tariff" stick is waved, China should join with Canada and India and threaten to dump their US Bond Holdings. Now that would be a blowtorch moment. 

That would be an interesting one.