There are no missiles raining down on Havana. But what I saw there was still warfare | Owen Jones

The Guardian US News
by Owen Jones
March 25, 2026
2 views
3 min read

Quick Insights

The Bottom Line

Trump's tariff threat cut Cuba's fuel imports for three months, collapsing the electricity grid and crippling hospitals.

AI Summary

Guardian columnist Owen Jones reports from Havana on how Trump's threat of tariffs against countries supplying fuel to Cuba has effectively cut off the island's fuel imports for three months, causing the electricity grid to collapse and stranding patients like Maria, a 50-year-old terminal cancer patient, in hospitals struggling without power. Jones characterizes the fuel blockade as economic warfare that, while not involving missiles, is creating severe humanitarian consequences by crippling Cuba's basic services and infrastructure. The column frames the policy as part of a broader pattern of destructive American power projection that Jones argues breeds global resentment rather than advancing U.S. interests. Jones witnessed firsthand how the shortage is affecting Cuban hospitals and public services as the island's diesel and fuel reserves rapidly deplete.

Source Coverage Map

9 of 43 tracked sources covered this story

21% coverage
Did Not Cover (34)
ICIJ97AP World News96AP News96AP US News96AP Top News96+29 more

Following this story?

Get notified when new coverage appears

Other Sources Covering This Story

5 sources

Multiple outlets have reported on this story. Compare perspectives from different sources.

Should this be getting more attention?

You Might Have Missed

Related stories from different sources and perspectives

Russian oil tanker nears Cuba in test of US resolve on blockade
Global

Russian oil tanker nears Cuba in test of US resolve on blockade

Russian officials confirmed Wednesday that Moscow is sending fuel to Cuba as humanitarian aid, intensifying geopolitical tensions as a Russian oil tanker likely bound for the island approaches the Caribbean. Moscow’s announcement comes amid a US effort to choke off oil supplies to Havana that has led to a worsening energy crisis and an unfolding humanitarian disaster.

© France Médias Monde graphic studioMar 26
China is mapping the ocean floor as it prepares for submarine warfare with the U.S. - Reuters
National Security

China is mapping the ocean floor as it prepares for submarine warfare with the U.S. - Reuters

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiuAFBVV95cUxNUjBzWXRGUU5kejFFdXp0Ty1Vak8xaTBRdXpqRkhOVDZLT05hVDRQaUR6c3g3dlRrRDI5VGlPUkhZVjhHY0YyNnA4S0ZUVnJSbFlfcV9rZmE5NUMxdnJ5ZTRPN29JWHFiLTFYUWR5OFhoVFBNX1d0ZExqRklhMkFreE92d0dXVmhzTm14Rkx3Qk5aT2pYNGlJRzAtU0VQektmT3VSMlpoRGRZNWQ3Rm5ZVEFsSlYwTEct?oc=5" target="_blank">China is mapping the ocean floor as it prepares for submarine warfare with the U.S.</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">Reuters</font>

ReutersMar 24
Trump administration seeks Endangered Species Act exemption for oil, gas projects in Gulf - AP News
Politics

Trump administration seeks Endangered Species Act exemption for oil, gas projects in Gulf - AP News

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMingFBVV95cUxNYlZqbGI1UTEtdHhCeXNKRkhzWVo1ZUlHclF0SDE4VXA4cFc4X1VRVG9neEFNMnNaVjFUeFZvNkJUSnJZYjNOWDFrbmZPa0NHaU4yaU1fODFfMVYxblRBbmNDSXl2eXdPVVd5eE5FNzkyekt5cDF0bWJVQnQ3VzNWZ0phVVZNZnNCN2pBZG1jU0t1Z245MENobmtQcUxRZw?oc=5" target="_blank">Trump administration seeks Endangered Species Act exemption for oil, gas projects in Gulf</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">AP News</font>

AP NewsMar 26
California sues over Trump administration bid to restart offshore oil operation
Environment

California sues over Trump administration bid to restart offshore oil operation

California on Monday sued the Trump administration to block it from using a Cold War-era national emergency law ordering Sable Offshore to restart its offshore oil operation to link to refineries in the Golden State. Attorney General Rob Bonta (D) told reporters at a press conference that “it’s just not true” that there’s a national…

The HillMar 25
America's arsenal of tomorrow: Divergent 3D-prints cruise missiles
AI & Warfare

America's arsenal of tomorrow: Divergent 3D-prints cruise missiles

<p>TORRANCE, Calif. —<strong> </strong>A cruise-missile airframe is being 3D-printed before my eyes. The <a href="https://www.axios.com/technology/automation-and-ai" target="_blank">AI-driven</a> system, the size of a shipping container, hums as it stacks layer on layer of aluminum and proprietary advanced metals.</p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>This white-floored factory at <a href="https://www.divergent3d.com/company/history" target="_blank">Divergent Technologies</a>, just outside L.A., is a window into the American arsenal of the future.</p><p><strong>Each of Divergent's printers,</strong> engineered and manufactured in the U.S., can produce hundreds of these missile airframes each year. They're part of a new generation of "low-cost" missiles that are roughly one-tenth the cost of a legacy system.</p><ul><li>The finished missiles, including parts from other contractors, run $200,000 to $500,000. Legacy standard missiles range from $2 million to $6 million each.</li></ul><...

AxiosMar 23
Trump makes a detour to Elvis Presley's Graceland in Memphis during Iran war and airport turmoil - AP News
Politics

Trump makes a detour to Elvis Presley's Graceland in Memphis during Iran war and airport turmoil - AP News

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMimAFBVV95cUxOS0gxd08tWklXWERnTGV0Y2I2djlHYTdNQjhkbFhxNEpiOU1CUHJjT3N4NFR4c005eUoyb0tVLWZPSWR2SDY4eXE0MXR2NXJGNnlaNTdxLVBMWWN5bVRhbGRIdkkzU1M4QTZUOGMzRWpBdjdoa0E5X0d1Wm1jeUZGSTNQWUFnRHk5OVhOSXZ6a3p5RVczb0JfQw?oc=5" target="_blank">Trump heads to Elvis Presley's Graceland in Memphis, a detour during Iran war and airport turmoil</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">AP News</font>

AP NewsMar 23
Read Next
US uses hundreds of Tomahawk missiles on Iran, alarming some at Pentagon, WaPo reports - Reuters
National Security

US uses hundreds of Tomahawk missiles on Iran, alarming some at Pentagon, WaPo reports - Reuters

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi1AFBVV95cUxQaWlEeG1iQ3BYdWtGQXlGT09ieHV5cTJic05XT3pHaWpHOWtFVTBhd3I0d0o2WlhlaUZpb3RCMXVhdi1RNXRUdkpuMjU4LWJOd3NISWlnRy1aMFVCTFNGNHZ3UUljQ1RYYXdrcTl1MkJ1aDJKdE9NUHBJUWtZZVNHRmJhMmtMMV9nR1FCZ3FsN09OOE01NDBHdUVLMjNZXzNZSGNkdmo3dmVua2M5dHV4b2l2MlRDSFJFTTlMbEpOZkZ4QVl0a0FWd0VnMDRKeVBwWVd2SA?oc=5" target="_blank">US uses hundreds of Tomahawk missiles on Iran, alarming some at Pentagon, WaPo reports</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">Reuters</font>

Continue reading

Did this story change how you see things?

Stories like this only matter when people see them. Help us get verified journalism in front of more eyes.

Share this story

Get the daily digest

Save for later

The Verity Ledger curates verified investigative journalism from trusted sources only.

See our sources