Source: Cuba is facing its worst economic crisis in over three decades; the upheaval in Venezuela could deal a fatal blow

Analysts note that even without the threat of a cutoff in aid from Venezuela, Cuba is already facing its worst economic crisis since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Fuel shortages and aging infrastructure have led to widespread power outages, severely impacting the economy, and approximately one-fifth of the population lacks a stable source of drinking water. The development of the situation in Cuba depends largely on Venezuela’s new power structure—it remains uncertain whether Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, who took power with U.S. support, will continue to support Cuba. If the United States succeeds in severing the energy and financial ties between Venezuela and Cuba, the situation in Cuba will inevitably become even more dire.