United States issues executive order sanctioning Cuba's oil sector

On May 1, 2026 the President of the United States signed Executive Order 14404, a measure aimed at pressuring the Cuban government by authorising actions that critics describe as a licence to target the Cuban population. The order was followed on June 11, 2026 by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who placed the state oil company CUPET on a U.S. blocked‑entity list, prohibiting any U.S. or allied business dealings with the firm that controls Cuba’s oil, gas and cooking‑fuel supply chain.

The sanction was triggered after Vanguard Energy announced a contract to export 200,000‑250,000 barrels of fuel to private Cuban companies. Miami‑Dade officials subsequently revoked Vanguard’s commercial licence, further limiting fuel imports. Energy analyst Jorge Piñón, cited in both reports, explained that CUPET manages the entire oil value chain in Cuba and that the halted shipment could have supplied the private sector for one to two months.

The actions have drawn accusations that the United States is using economic warfare to force political change in Cuba, raising concerns about humanitarian impact on millions of Cuban citizens who rely on the sanctioned fuel and gas supplies.