Cuba’s energy resilience amid US blockade reveals geopolitical fractures and neocolonial energy dependencies

Cuba’s energy resilience is rooted in Afro-Cuban and indigenous traditions of communal resource management, such as the *conuco* agricultural model, which prioritises localised energy production and circular economies. Indigenous knowledge systems in Cuba, including those of the Taíno people, emphasize harmony with nature, offering alternatives to fossil fuel dependency. However, these perspectives are marginalised in favor of state-led narratives of technological resilience.

The US embargo on Cuba, enacted in 1960 and codified in 1992, is the longest-running economic blockade in modern history, designed to destabilise Cuba’s socialist government. Historical precedents include the 1973 oil crisis, when Cuba turned to the USSR for energy support, mirroring today’s reliance on Russia. The embargo’s extraterritorial reach, such as the Helms-Burton Act (1996), has forced Cuba to seek energy partnerships in non-Western spheres, reinforcing a pattern of geopolitical isolation.

In Venezuela, similar US sanctions have led to energy rationing and a shift toward barter economies, while Iran’s energy sector has adapted through domestic innovation and regional alliances. Caribbean nations like Trinidad and Tobago, despite oil wealth, face energy poverty due to corporate extraction and neoliberal policies, highlighting shared vulnerabilities. Cuba’s situation reflects a broader Global South struggle against energy colonialism, where resource-rich nations are denied sovereignty over their own energy futures.

Cuba’s energy crisis is exacerbated by the US embargo’s impact on fuel imports, which has led to a 30% reduction in energy availability since 2020, according to the Cuban government. Studies show that Cuba’s renewable energy potential (e.g., solar, wind) could meet 24% of its energy needs by 2030, but sanctions limit access to critical technologies. The reliance on Russian oil, while providing short-term relief, undermines long-term decarbonisation goals and increases vulnerability to global oil price fluctuations.

Cuban artists and musicians, such as those in the *Nueva Trova* movement, have long used cultural expression to critique energy dependency and imperialism, framing resilience as a spiritual and collective act. Afro-Cuban religions like Santería and Palo Monte incorporate rituals of reciprocity with nature, offering metaphors for sustainable energy transitions. However, state censorship and commercialisation often dilute these critiques, reducing them to performative resistance.

Scenario modelling suggests that Cuba’s energy future hinges on three pathways: accelerating renewable energy adoption, deepening regional energy integration (e.g., with Venezuela and Mexico), and challenging US sanctions through international legal frameworks. A transition to decentralised energy systems, such as community solar grids, could reduce reliance on fossil fuel imports by 40% by 2040. However, geopolitical fragmentation and corporate resistance may delay these transitions.

Marginalised groups in Cuba, including Afro-Cubans, rural communities, and LGBTQ+ activists, bear the brunt of energy shortages, facing higher costs for basic services and limited access to healthcare. Women, who disproportionately manage household energy needs, are often excluded from energy policy discussions despite their critical role in resilience strategies. Diaspora remittances, a lifeline for many families, are constrained by US financial sanctions, further exacerbating energy poverty.