Trump declares national emergency on Cuba, imposes oil sanctions as embassies activate evacuation plans
U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday establishing tariffs on countries supplying oil to Cuba, prompting foreign embassies and companies on the island to review contingency plans.
January 29, 2026
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday declaring a national emergency regarding Cuba and establishing a process to impose tariffs on products from countries that sell or supply oil to the island.
The decree states that "the policies, practices and actions of the Cuban government are designed to harm the United States and support hostile countries, transnational terrorist groups and malign actors seeking to destroy the United States." According to the order, "the situation with respect to Cuba represents an unusual and extraordinary threat" to U.S. national security and foreign policy, prompting Trump to declare the national emergency.
The tariff measure targets any product from nations supplying petroleum to Cuba, a step that could severely restrict the island's energy access. The order was published late Thursday afternoon in Washington.
Mexico has emerged as Cuba's primary oil supplier following the U.S. intervention in Venezuela and the seizure of Venezuela's energy industry. Mexican state oil company Pemex has sent petroleum shipments from its terminal in Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz to Cuba, a practice that has continued since 1993 but intensified since 2024 as humanitarian aid amid the island's energy crisis. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has characterized the oil cargoes as both humanitarian assistance and commercial contracts between Pemex and the Cuban government. Sheinbaum spoke by telephone with Trump Thursday morning, hours before the announcement, and stated in a press appearance that the conversation did not address Mexico's oil shipments to Cuba.
The Trump administration has signaled broader intentions regarding Cuba's political future. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau stated Wednesday that Washington hopes Cubans can "exercise their fundamental freedoms" in 2026, indicating the White House is betting on political change on the island.
In response to the escalating geopolitical uncertainty, foreign embassies and international companies operating in Cuba have begun reviewing and updating contingency and evacuation protocols. Diplomatic and business sources told local media that concerns about a possible U.S. military intervention prompted the activation of emergency procedures. British multinational Unilever decided to evacuate the families of its foreign workers, a measure reflecting corporate concern not only about potential armed conflict but also about the collapse of basic services that could result from increased blockade measures. The decision by Unilever marked the first concrete step by the private sector in response to the instability scenario.
The heightened alert follows the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, which has intensified concerns in diplomatic circles about potential U.S. military action in the Caribbean region. The situation represents a level of uncertainty not experienced in Cuba for decades, according to sources familiar with the diplomatic and business communities on the island.