Cuba’s widening economic turmoil along with its growing political tensions with US President Donald Trump have paralyzed much of the island and raised uncertainty about what’s next.
The country was plunged into darkness this week by a blackout — the third big failure of its power grid since December — opening the door for Trump to suggest that he might have the “honor of taking Cuba.”
“I mean, whether I free it, take it. I think I could do anything I want with it,” Trump said on Monday.
Cuba is struggling under the weight of an US energy blockade that has halted oil shipments to the island over the past three months.
Many of the nation’s 11 million residents struggle to keep food from spoiling. Hospitals have canceled surgeries. The leading university has reduced classes due to the power outages and transportation shutdowns.
