The desperation of Cubans, trapped between Trump and the regime: ‘How can you resist when you have nothing?’

Cuba’s economic collapse is worsening under intensified U.S. pressure, leaving citizens without basic necessities. In central Havana, residents report empty shelves, no running water, and electricity blackouts lasting days, while a black market exchange rate slashes salaries to just $27 a month. Andrés, a 37-year-old veterinarian earning double the average wage, struggles to afford food and water, working 12-15 hours daily as tourism vanishes. The U.S. blockade, now in its fourth month under Donald Trump, has crippled fuel supplies, with only one Russian ship delivering diesel since February. The Cuban government admits reserves are exhausted, while Washington escalates attacks, including a Florida court’s indictment of 94-year-old Raúl Castro for ordering the 1996 downing of anti-Castro planes, killing four. This marks the first criminal case against the regime in decades, signaling unprecedented U.S. aggression. Everyday life reflects the crisis: homes lack food and cooking ingredients, people endure days without showers, and a month’s salary buys only two kilos of perishable chicken. Blackouts trap residents in sweltering heat, while garbage piles up and flies swarm streets. Andrés questions the regime’s rhetoric, asking, ‘How can you resist when you have nothing?’ The blockade’s impact extends beyond economics, stifling hopes for democratic change. Cubans, already in poverty, fear further decline as U.S. pressure tightens. The regime’s focus on ‘defending the revolution’ rings hollow amid collapsing infrastructure and unmet needs. Meanwhile, Washington’s dual strategy—legal action against Castro and economic strangulation—aims to force political transformation, but only deepens suffering for ordinary citizens.