Havana, Cuba – “I have two news for you: one good and one bad.”
Those were the first words 28-year-old web designer Elena Garcia heard when she woke up on the morning of Jan. 3, hours after a United States military operation abducted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
“The good news is that the water has come,” her boyfriend added. “The bad news is that they kidnapped Maduro and that means we will definitely have a blackout this year.”
Supply shortages are endemic in most parts of Cuba. In Villa Panamericana, a neighborhood in Havana where Garcia lives, fresh water had not been delivered for a week.
Still, compared to other parts of the city, the neighborhood is relatively privileged: it suffers fewer power outages than other areas.
But until this month, Cuba has been able to rely on Venezuela for support, including shipments of fuel needed to run its electrical grid.
That changed on January 3. With Maduro’s ouster, Cuba risks losing its closest ally in the Western Hemisphere.
US President Donald Trump till January 11 announced Venezuela will no longer supply Cuba with oil or money.
Venezuela’s threat to cut off support is expected to further devastate Cuba’s economy — and possibly lead to unrest.
Since the US attack on Venezuela, the streets of Havana have been quiet, and the Cuban government has vowed to maintain relations with Venezuela.
Conversely, social media debates about what will happen next as the US increases its power.
“There are people who fear an invasion and there are people who are calling for one,” said Amanda Terrero, 28, a communications professor at the University of Havana.
She explained that the country is plagued with uncertainty about what the future holds.
“People are also making contingency plans to leave the country,” she said.