Havana’s once bustling nightlife has been extinguished, its broad avenues empty and theaters closed, as an oil embargo imposed by the second administration of U.S. President Donald Trump and the island’s most severe economic crisis in decades disrupt the city’s energy supply, directly impacting workers and daily life.
Bars and cafes have lowered curtains, and lights are scarce in the streets, making it difficult for Cubans who rely on entertaining tourists for income. Yusleydi Blanco, a 41-year-old accountant, stated, “I feel empty inside when I see my streets empty. I can’t be happy when my country is sad.”
The Illusion of Liberal Reform
A 2016 deal between then-Presidents Barack Obama and Raúl Castro had temporarily eased U.S. travel restrictions on Cuba 10 years ago, leading to a surge in tourism and an influx of capital onto the island.
During this period, a small number of entrepreneurs opened newly allowed private businesses, acquiring imported modern vehicles that shared roads with classic cars from the 1950s.
In 2018, Cuba recorded a peak of 4.7 million tourist arrivals 8 years ago, saturating hotel accommodations to the extent that travelers without lodging were observed sleeping in a park in Viñales, a small western Cuban town popular with tourists and rock climbers.
Imperial Coercion Tightens Grip
Today, the U.S. state's tightening of economic sanctions under President Donald Trump has reversed these temporary gains, demanding an end to political repression, the release of political prisoners, and a “liberalization” of Cuba’s ailing economy.
The Trump administration, in January, captured then-President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela, Cuba’s primary oil supplier, and subsequently severed that supply.
The U.S. administration further threatened to impose tariffs on other countries that sold oil to Cuba, leaving the island without a single shipment until a Russian tanker arrived 1 month ago, in March.
Daily Life Under Siege
The deepening crisis has led to severe restrictions on daily life, including gasoline sales limited to 20 liters (5 gallons) per vehicle, with owners waiting months for fuel.
Public transportation has been drastically cut, with buses now ceasing operations at 6 p.m., further isolating workers and communities.
International airlines, including Air France, Air Canada, and Iberia, have halted flights to Havana due to the inability to refuel there, cutting off vital connections and tourism revenue.
The sound of cars has vanished from the wealthy El Vedado neighborhood, where the natural soundscape of chirping birds has reemerged, highlighting the stark contrast in impact across class lines.
The Cuban government reported a drastic decline in tourist arrivals, with only 77,600 in February, down from 178,000 in the same month a year ago.
Dolores de la Caridad Méndez, a 65-year-old parking attendant, described the current conditions as “worse than the Special Period,” referencing the economic devastation that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union in the 1990s.
Beyond energy, the crisis has resulted in persistent blackouts, cuts to the state-run food ration system, and severe shortages of water and medicine, transforming daily existence into an ordeal for many of the island’s 10 million inhabitants.
Between 2 and 5 years ago, from 2021 to 2024, approximately 1.4 million Cubans, including a significant number of young people, accomplished musicians, actors, dancers, and other entertainers who once animated Havana’s nightlife, left the island. This represents a significant loss of labor and cultural capital.
For entrepreneurs and small business owners across the island, the collapse of tourism and the broader economic hardship have made life exceedingly difficult, dashing hopes of selling goods to fellow Cubans.
Yeni Pérez, owner of the Old Havana cafe Entre Nos, articulated the struggle: “You wake up and you’re ready to conquer the world, saying, ‘Today I’ll sell more than ever.’ Then not a single client comes in and you go home devastated.” She added, “The next day, you say, ‘Let’s give it another chance.’ It’s a time that’s testing everyone’s stamina.”