Where Have Cuba's Friends Gone? | DW News

Mar 24, 2026 | Cuba is facing one of its worst crises in decades. After the U.S. imposed a near total oil blockade on the island — and warned of tariffs on any country willing to supply fuel — Cuba’s long standing alliances in Latin America have begun to crumble.

With Venezuela’s President Maduro removed and its oil shipments cut off, the island has plunged deeper into blackouts, shortages and a growing humanitarian emergency.

Why are Cuba’s traditional left wing allies staying silent? And how is U.S. pressure reshaping diplomacy across the region?

DW speaks with Christopher Sabatini, Senior Research Fellow for Latin America at Chatham House, to understand why Mexico, Brazil and Colombia are keeping their distance and what Cuba’s future could look like as it becomes increasingly isolated.