Lead

Cuba and the United States traded sharp accusations at the United Nations on Tuesday, a day after Cuba's national electrical grid collapsed for the third time this year, leaving nearly 10 million people without power. Cuba's foreign minister, Bruno Rodríguez, accused the US of committing an "act of war" by restricting fuel shipments, while US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz blamed Cuba's communist government for years of blackouts, repression and economic collapse.

Coverage Comparison

Both BBC and Fox News reported the confrontation at the UN General Assembly, but their coverage differed in emphasis. BBC's report centered on President Miguel Díaz-Canel's acknowledgment of public discontent and his call for Cubans to direct their anger toward the US government. Fox News focused more on Waltz's forceful rebuttal of Cuba's "act of war" claim and his assertion that no US naval blockade exists. Both outlets noted the severity of the blackout, with Fox News citing it as the third nationwide failure this year and the eighth since October 2025 (via Reuters), while BBC highlighted the rolling power cuts that have left some rural areas dark for up to 70 hours.

Key Claims

  • Cuba's fuel restrictions claim: Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez told the UN that US efforts to restrict fuel deliveries amounted to "an energy collapse, equivalent to a naval blockade, which is an act of war," according to a UNTV transcript cited by Fox News. BBC reported Rodríguez's accusation of "multi-dimensional, non-conventional warfare" that had become "ever more cruel" over the past seven months.
  • US response: Ambassador Mike Waltz rejected the blockade claim, saying, "There is no ring of Navy warships, U.S. Navy warships sitting around this island blocking trade or humanitarian aid going into Cuba. It's fake. It's false. It's a lie. Period." He argued that the real embargo was imposed by Cuba's government on its own citizens, and urged it to "change your ways and turn the lights back on for your people."
  • Cuban president's acknowledgment: BBC reported that President Díaz-Canel acknowledged public discontent, saying, "There are shortages of transport, food, medicines, there are lengthy power cuts lasting more than 20 hours, that causes dissatisfaction, nobody can be happy, the people are suffering." He urged Cubans to direct their pot-banging protests toward the US government, which he blamed for the power cuts.
  • Economic context: Fox News reported that Cuba's government controls approximately half of the country's economy through GAESA, and that the US has provided over $100 million in aid to Cuba this year. These details were not present in BBC's coverage.
  • Background: Both outlets noted that US-Cuban relations have deteriorated rapidly since the start of the year, when President Donald Trump accused Cuba's government of posing a national security threat. BBC added that the deterioration followed the US seizure of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a close ally of Cuba.

Perspectives

  • Cuban government: Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez framed the US fuel restrictions as an act of war, describing a campaign of "multidimensional, non-conventional warfare." President Díaz-Canel acknowledged public suffering but urged citizens to blame the US rather than his government.
  • US government: Ambassador Mike Waltz denied any naval blockade and placed responsibility for the blackouts squarely on Cuba's government, accusing it of repression and economic mismanagement. He suggested that the Cuban regime prioritizes its own power over the needs of its people.
The two perspectives reflect the broader geopolitical rift between the countries, with each side attributing the crisis to the other's actions. No independent assessment of the root causes was included in the coverage reviewed.