Three independent human rights experts of the UN Human Rights Council have warned that a fuel blockade imposed on Cuba by the United States since January 2025 constitutes "energy starvation" — a condition they say is incompatible with international human rights norms. The warning was issued in a joint statement from Geneva on 8 May.

What the UN Experts Said

"Cuba has been subjected to energy starvation by the United States, a condition in which the lack of fuel cripples the functioning of essential services required for a dignified life," said Surya Deva, Sofia Monsalve Suarez, and Pedro Arrojo-Agudo, all independent special rapporteurs under the UN Human Rights Council.

The three experts argued that the US "unlawful blockade" has not only disrupted the daily lives of Cuban citizens but has also undermined "the enjoyment of a wide range of human rights." They urged Washington to stop deploying such measures as a "coercive tool."

Impact on Cuban Citizens

Fuel shortages have reportedly prevented Cubans from reaching hospitals and children from attending school. According to the experts' statement, Cuba's health system is facing a backlog of more than 96,000 pending surgeries, including 11,000 for children. Delays in the national immunisation programme have additionally affected thousands of infants, compounding what the experts describe as a humanitarian emergency driven by energy deprivation.

Trump's Threats and Military Posturing

Speaking at a recent event in Palm Beach, Florida, US President Donald Trump said the United States would take control of Cuba "almost immediately" after "finishing a job" — a reference widely interpreted as alluding to the ongoing conflict with Iran in the Middle East. He also threatened to position the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln approximately "100 yards" off Cuba's coast upon its return from the region. Since January, the Trump administration has imposed successive oil restrictions on Cuba and has repeatedly threatened military action to overthrow the Cuban government.

Cuba's Response

On 6 May, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez called it "cynical and hypocritical" for the United States to threaten military force to "liberate" Cuba after more than six decades of economic, commercial, and financial embargo. His remarks reflect Havana's longstanding position that the US blockade — which predates the current administration by over 60 years — is itself a violation of international law.

Broader Context

This is not the first time UN human rights bodies have criticised the US embargo on Cuba; resolutions condemning the blockade have passed at the UN General Assembly with overwhelming majorities for decades. What is notable now is the explicit framing of energy denial as a human rights violation, escalating the diplomatic pressure on Washington at a moment when military rhetoric from the Trump administration is intensifying. How the US responds to the UN experts' call — and whether Cuba's health crisis deepens further — will be closely watched in the weeks ahead.