Argentina’s government on Friday advised its citizens not to travel to Cuba due to "deteriorating conditions,” citing fuel shortages in the Caribbean country, failures in public services and a lack of medical supplies on the island.
The recommendation from President Javier Milei’s government comes in the wake of a decree issued Thursday by the United States government led by President Donald Trump, which threatened to impose tariffs on nations that sell oil to Havana.
“In view of the deterioration in living conditions in Cuba, Argentine citizens are advised to avoid or postpone tourist travel to the island,” the Foreign Ministry in Buenos Aires said in a statement posted on X, the social media platform.
The statement also urges Argentines living in Cuba to “remain attentive to developments in the situation.”
“There are reports of fuel shortages, including in tourist areas, prolonged power outages, disruptions to access to mains water, and shortages of food and medicines,” it added.
Cuba has been experiencing a severe economic crisis for several years, with major difficulties in meeting its fuel and electricity needs.
Cubans queued around the block for fuel Friday as the island's Communist government decried US efforts to "suffocate" the already‑stricken economy with a virtual oil blockade.
Hours after Trump approved punitive tariffs against countries supplying oil to Cuba, lines formed at stations in the Cuban capital.
Trump's executive order was denounced in Havana as an attempt to throttle an economy already suffering power blackouts of up to 20 hours a day and critical shortages of fuel, medicines and food.
The decree effectively forces Cuba's partners to choose between trade with the world's largest economy or with an impoverished island of 11 million people.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel denounced attempts by a "fascist, criminal and genocidal" US cabal to "suffocate" Cuba.
Cuba is facing its most serious economic crisis since the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, its principal benefactor.
Until recently, the Cuban economy spluttered by on cheap supplies of Venezuelan oil.
But these have dried up since US special forces swooped into Caracas and deposed Venezuela’s leader, Nicolás Maduro, on January 3.
Trump and his Cuban-American Secretary of State Marco Rubio have made no secret about their desire to bring regime change in Havana.
Argentina’s recommendation to its citizens comes at a time when there is speculation about possible US intervention in Cuba, following the ouster of Maduro.
– TIMES/AFP/NA
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