Cuba seeks Vatican help to ease U.S. oil embargo

Friday 27 March 2026 - 12:00

Cuban officials have reportedly turned to the Vatican for assistance in persuading the U.S. administration to relax its oil embargo, according to the Washington Post. Senior-level discussions involved Vatican representatives, including Pope Leo.

Reuters could not independently confirm the report. Requests for comment to the Vatican, the White House, and the Cuban government were not immediately answered.

Earlier this month, Havana and Washington held talks as the U.S. oil blockade, imposed by President Donald Trump, exacerbates Cuba’s ongoing energy crisis. Reports have also suggested that the Trump administration was seeking political change in Cuba, including the potential removal of President Miguel Díaz-Canel.

The embargo has put additional strain on Cuba’s fragile power infrastructure, which has already faced multiple grid collapses in recent weeks, further complicating efforts to stabilize the island’s energy supply.