Chinese Foreign Ministry

Force in Play

Remains Cuba's largest supplier of solar panels as shipments rise under the U.S. oil blockade

The United States has imposed economic pressure on Cuba for 64 years. Now, for the first time, Washington is threatening to punish any country that sells oil to the island. President Trump's January 29 executive order creates a tariff mechanism targeting third countries that supply Cuban fuel—a significant escalation that goes beyond traditional bilateral sanctions to coerce allies and trading partners into joining an energy blockade. The strategy has proven devastatingly effective: Cuba's national power grid collapsed entirely on March 17, 2026, leaving approximately 10 million people without electricity and triggering street protests across the island, the most visible civil unrest in years. Partial restoration occurred on March 18 after 29 hours, but the blackout deepened shortages of food, medicine, and water, including the vandalization of a Cuban Communist Party provincial office in Morón. On March 21, Cuba blocked a US Embassy request to import diesel for generators, escalating diplomatic tensions amid ongoing rolling blackouts.

Updated 4 days ago

Rule Changes

As of October 2026: Released the eight-point consensus statement after the summit

Chinese President Xi Jinping wrapped up his first state visit to Washington in more than a decade with a handshake on tariffs. The United States and China agreed on $30 billion of reciprocal tariff cuts in each direction and a formal dialogue on artificial intelligence.

Updated Oct 3