This is like the third time a collapse has been reported. How much more collapsed can it get?
Daily, in the worst case. They have almost no oil and only 10% of their needs are covered by solar (skipping everything non-essential will reduce needs, but only so much). They are adding solar capacity fast, but have little money, so there’s a limit.
And this is important, why? Is there some reason we keep abusing the Cubans? They haven’t been Soviet for decades. ALL the leaders we were mad at are dead. Their current hatred for America is more based on how badly America treats Cuba, than politics.
And most Americans have no animosity toward Cuba at all. Just the opposite, in fact. Most Americans would LOVE to visit Cuba. Cruise Ships would love to dock there. And American corporations would love an entirely new country close off our coast to exploit.
Opening up trade with Cuba is a win-win, but there is so much negative political inertia that they don’t seem to be able to stop.
Isnt there still a bunch of Cuban expatriots (or their descendants) in Florida who oppose normalizing relations with Cuba cause their grandparents lost their feudal lordship when the Castro regime took over?
Absolutely, and the Republicans have OWNED their vote since the Bay of Pigs. They totally blamed JFK (rightfully) and the Dems ever since. That’s why they’ve always been so loyal to each other.
The problem was that Republicans always figured that all Hispanics were the same, so if the Cubans were in their side, so were the Puerto Ricans, Central Americans, South Americans, etc. As more and more people from those regions became citizens and started voting, it became apparent they weren’t the supporters that they were assumed to be. There seems to be some MAGA support, but it isn’t solid, and it isn’t certain. That’s why they threw the Hispanics to the ICE Wolves.
I suspect it is also why Trump is sabre-rattling about Cuba. Cubans may have started to worry that they’ll start getting targeted (I haven’t heard of Cuban deportations), so Trump is soothing their very loyal MAGA fears that they shouldn’t worry, he’s not going to deport them, he’s going to LIBERATE CUBA!
Then he’ll deport them.
It’s simpler than that… Obama wanted to normalize relations with Cuba so we can’t do it. Just like the Iran Nuclear Deal. Trump is literally just that petty.
The fucking Putz can’t figure out that by deliberately doing the exact opposite of what Obama did, he is allowing Obama to dictate his actions.
He’s a slave to Obama.
That’ll make him jump out a window. Unfortunately the Oval Office is on the first floor, so…
Do you know why eg China hasn’t tried to invest in Cuba and this model you’re suggesting?
If you’ve been to Cuba, you would see Chinese investment everywhere.
Then why is it all falling apart? China builds tons of infrastructure in other countries
It’s very “hands off”, much like soviet investment in the country. Like, you see tons of Chinese-made cars and buses, their internet and telephony infra is Chinese and farming equipment is often from them as well. However, all of that is implemented and maintained by the Cuban people, where China has sent personnel to other countries to build out that infrastructure.
I think most of their energy and food imports are still Russian though, which of course means the country grinds to a halt pretty quick if that supply is cut. Cuba has basically no petroleum resources and is also heavily dependent on trucks to move good around (as in basically no functioning rail infrastructure and what’s there is soviet-era and thus not compatible with more modern railcars). Add to that what amounts effectively to a blockade both physically and diplomatically from the US, it’s difficult for them to do any meaningful amount of trade.
I have been wondering lately though with the US alienating all of their allies, if Canada and other countries might just start to ignore the US sanctions, but I have a fair amount of doubt still considering that Cuba is still maintaining it’s alliance with Russia.
ETA: Apparently Cuba has been getting most of it’s petroleum from Venezuela lately, and well, that’s not happening anymore.
Great post.
I also have to apologies on the part of my own nation. We’re not the US, but we’re deferential, subservient allies.
I hate these comments.
You don’t have the authority and your apology is meaningless without action.I’m sure you mean well, but
If Russia gets the tanker through, there will be a little relief. It will be interesting, to say the least, to see what happens in the next couple of days.
