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Cuba Under US Pressure: Crisis, But Not Collapse

The LatinNews Podcast

The LatinNews Podcast
Cuba Under US Pressure: Crisis, But Not Collapse
Feb 26, 2026 Season 1 Episode 70
LatinNews

In this episode of The LatinNews Podcast, we assess Cuba’s deepening economic crisis under intensifying US pressure and ask a central question: does severe hardship necessarily lead to regime collapse?

The grinding strategy targeting oil supplies has sharply reduced fuel availability, paralysed transport and worsened daily life on the island. Yet despite visible deterioration, public order remains intact and the Cuban state continues to function.

Joining us is Dr Jorge Domínguez, retired professor at Harvard University and a leading expert on Cuba, who has just returned from Havana. Drawing on first-hand observations, he examines the gap between economic collapse narratives and the resilience of the Cuban state.

We discuss the evolving nature of US pressure, the distinction between embargo and blockade, China and Russia’s limited roles, the political durability of the regime under President Miguel Díaz-Canel, and the possible short-term scenarios ahead.

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