Cuba on the Brink—and Europe Still Missing in Action

As Havana quietly opens talks with Washington amid deepening shortages and unrest, Brussels sticks to a long-failed policy of dialogue. General view of a street in Havana on March 16, 2026. YAMIL LAGE / AFP Cuba is edging toward a breaking point—and, for the first time in years, even its leadership seems to know it. After months of rolling blackouts, empty shelves, and growing street protests, Havana has quietly opened talks with Donald Trump’s administration. The goal is simple: ease the crushing economic pressure without loosening its grip on power. Whether that balancing act is still possible is another question....