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Annual cigar festival delayed in Havana
The Festival del Habano, a major international event celebrating Cuban cigars, has been postponed indefinitely due to a severe fuel shortage on the island, organizers announced on Saturday.
Fuel crisis disrupts event
The decision to delay the five-day festival, originally scheduled for late February, was attributed to Cuba's ongoing economic challenges, specifically the US economic, commercial, and financial blockade, according to the organizing committee.
The shortage has led to widespread power outages, with blackouts lasting up to 18 hours a day, affecting hospitals, dialysis patients, and water pumping stations.
US actions worsen shortages
The crisis has been exacerbated by the US seizure of oil shipments from Venezuela, Cuba's long-standing ally. Venezuela previously supplied Cuba with approximately 35,000 barrels of oil daily before US authorities detained Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on January 3.
Aviation fuel shortages have also forced several airlines to suspend flights to Cuba, while governments, including the UK, have advised against non-essential travel to the island.
Impact on tourism and trade
The Festival del Habano typically attracts over 1,300 attendees from around 70 countries, offering cigar tastings, tours of tobacco plantations, and factory visits. Cuban cigars, renowned globally, remain illegal in the US under long-standing trade embargoes.
Organizers stated they would reschedule the event once conditions improve, prioritizing a high-quality experience for participants.
"The postponement is a measure to protect the prestige and relevance of this internationally significant event," the committee said.
Broader geopolitical tensions
The US and Cuba have maintained a strained relationship since Fidel Castro's 1959 revolution, which overthrew a US-backed government. Economic embargoes have been in place since 1960, though diplomatic efforts under former President Barack Obama briefly eased restrictions.
The Trump administration reversed many of these measures, and President Donald Trump has since urged Cuban leaders to "make a deal" or face unspecified consequences.
UN human rights experts have criticized Washington's restrictions on Cuba's oil imports as an "extreme form of unilateral economic coercion."
Next steps
The organizing committee is working to set a new date for the festival but has not yet provided details.
