Amanpour – “Cuba is Running Out of Oil”

Date: February 4, 2026
Host: Bianna Golodriga (sitting in for Christiane Amanpour)
Guests: Carlos Fernandez de Cossio (Cuba’s Deputy Foreign Minister), Amos Kharel (Haaretz/Israeli defense analyst), Kay Bailey Hutchison (former US Ambassador to NATO)

Episode Overview

This episode of Amanpour centers around Cuba’s escalating energy crisis amid dwindling oil supplies, tightening US sanctions, and rapidly rising diplomatic tensions. Bianna Golodriga explores the crisis with Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio, digging into Havana’s willingness for US dialogue, alleged foreign interference, Cuba’s internal spending priorities, and the wider humanitarian and political fallout. The show also features a segment with Israeli analyst Amos Kharel on the ceasefire and political maneuvering in Gaza, and a concluding interview with Kay Bailey Hutchison regarding the expiration of the last US-Russian nuclear arms treaty and broader security implications.

Main Segment: Cuba’s Oil Crisis and Prospects for US-Cuba Negotiations

Guest: Carlos Fernandez de Cossio, Cuba’s Deputy Foreign Minister
Timestamps: [02:19] – [22:20]

Crisis Context and US Pressure

• Cuba is running out of oil: At current consumption, it has “15 to 20 days of oil left” ([01:06]; [07:15]).
  • US sanctions have blocked Venezuelan and are now pressuring Mexico to cease oil shipments.
  • The embargo has widespread impact: beyond gas shortages, Cuba’s electricity grid is “on the brink of total collapse.”
• Is dialogue with Washington possible?
  • US President Trump claims Cuba will “come to us, they'll make a deal” ([02:21]).
  • Cuba’s position: Ready for meaningful dialogue with the US.

    “The US Government knows that Cuba is ready and has been ready for a long time to have a meaningful dialogue... At the moment, we've had some exchanges of messages, but we cannot say we have set a bilateral dialogue at this moment.”
    —Carlos Fernandez de Cossio ([03:12])

Key Discussion Points

Level and Nature of US-Cuba Exchanges

• All US-related Cuba decisions involve “the highest level” of the Cuban government ([03:39]).
• While there have been messages, no structured talks are underway ([03:32]; [19:10]).

Is Cuba’s Position Softening?

• Cuba denies a reversal in policy, despite hostile rhetoric.

  “Our president... said very clearly that Cuba is ready to have a serious and responsible dialogue... [that is] respectful of international law... and sovereignty.”
  —Carlos Fernandez de Cossio ([04:13])

Response to 'Regime Change' Goals

• De Cossio dismisses US/national security claims:

  “Cuba poses no threat to the United States... The allegations that they used are not truthful.”
  —Carlos Fernandez de Cossio ([05:02])

• He strongly rejects the notion of negotiating the socialist system itself:

  “We're not ready to discuss our constitutional system, just as the US is not ready to discuss their constitutional system, their political system, their economic reality.”
  —Carlos Fernandez de Cossio ([08:54])

Humanitarian Crisis & Blockade Impact

• When pressed about humanitarian compromise:

  “It depends on their demands. I cannot claim—I will not share reserves in oil... But... the cooperation that Cuba has provided has helped the security of the southeastern border of the United States...”
  —Carlos Fernandez de Cossio ([07:45])

• On coping strategies: “Austerity, stoicism, sacrifice... try to overcome reality with the possibility of having very little...” ([06:28]).

Blame for ‘Failed State’ Prospects

• De Cossio blames the US, not internal governance:

  “The reason our country would... become a failed state is not by the doing of our government. It's a... defined aim of the US Government of trying to destroy the livelihood of Cubans.”
  —Carlos Fernandez de Cossio ([11:24])

Spending Priorities: Hotels vs. Electrical Grid

• Critique: 40% national budget allegedly spent on luxury hotels—not the grid.
• De Cossio: That 40% is “an exaggeration,” argues tourism is a “legitimate industry” vital for foreign revenue ([14:01]).
• On internal allocation debates:

  “It's a very legitimate question... But that is not the reason why Cuba has had a very difficult economic situation. If it were, the US would not be so keen in increasing pressure against Cuba.”
  —Carlos Fernandez de Cossio ([14:36])

Venezuela, Mexico, and External Relations

• Confirmed: Venezuela no longer supplying oil ([15:09]).
• US is pressuring Mexico to stop shipments; Cuba is maintaining close communication with the Sheinbaum administration ([15:34]).

Allegations of Russia/China's Military Presence

• Strong denial of foreign surveillance activities:

  “There are no foreign operations in Cuba and there's no action... from any foreign country that is hostile against the United States...”
  —Carlos Fernandez de Cossio ([10:39], [10:52], [10:54])

Political Prisoners

• Amnesty International cites over 1,000 political prisoners; Vatican-mediated releases have reduced that by 500 recently.
• De Cossio sidesteps, turning blame to the US incarceration system, and confirms this is not yet an agenda item in talks ([18:22] – [19:10]).

Cuba’s Involvement in Venezuela

• Reports of Cuban military casualties during Maduro’s fall are acknowledged as the loss of “security detail,” not “troops.”

  “That in no way is equivalent to troops. People know what troops are.”
  —Carlos Fernandez de Cossio ([20:18])

• Confirms Cuba paid for this, calling it a matter of “cooperation,” not a paid-for deployment ([21:28]; [21:45]).

Willingness for Talks

• Despite hardships and pressure, Cuba still “ready to sit down with the US and have a meaningful, serious and responsible dialogue” ([16:50]).
• Proposes areas for cooperation: drugs, regional security, science, health, education, tourism ([08:54]).

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “Cuba... has lasted so long... What Cuba suffers is equivalent to war in terms of economic coercive measures” ([12:28]).
• “The people of Cuba supported that [sending security details to Venezuela] and are proud of that. The majority of Cubans.” ([22:00])
• “Try to measure any country... that would support and be able to sustain what Cuba has done.” ([12:28])

Second Segment: Gaza, Israel, and Diplomacy

Guest: Amos Kharel, Haaretz Defense Analyst
Timestamps: [25:53] – [38:55]

Gaza Ceasefire Fragility

• Ongoing clashes between Israeli forces and Hamas; ceasefire described as “very, very delicate” ([25:53]).
• Hostilities continue, including IDF retaliation for Palestinian attacks.
• The biggest barrier to lasting peace: dismantling Hamas’s weapons stockpile.

Netanyahu and Political Calculations

• Netanyahu’s reported preference for the ceasefire process (“Trump plan”) to collapse and reinitiate war with Hamas for political gain ([27:19]).
• All hostages have now been returned, possibly giving Israel freedom to escalate without domestic backlash ([27:41]).

Rafah Crossing Reopening

• Only a symbolic development at this point; very limited civilian crossing ([32:27]).
• The Palestinian Authority now involved, despite Israeli political resistance.
• Hamas theoretically giving up civilian authority, but giving up arms remains a sticking point.

Iran Nuclear Talks

• Potential talks between the US and Iran may not happen, Axios reporting cancellation ([34:13]).
• Israel’s big concern: Guarantees that any deal will confront not just nuclear issues, but also Iran’s ballistic missile program and proxy support.

Israeli Preparedness

• Israel has improved missile defense since the last Iran conflict but is not fully safe from attack ([38:20]).

Third Segment: Nuclear Arms Treaty Set to Expire

Guest: Kay Bailey Hutchison, ex-US Ambassador to NATO
Timestamps: [41:09] – [55:05]

End of the New START Treaty

• The US-Russia New START treaty—limiting nuclear arsenals—expires this week, ending five decades of arms control ([41:17]).
• Hutchison: The US let it expire over insufficient verification; “a bad treaty is worse than no treaty” ([41:31], [44:01]).

  “If you are going to have a real treaty... you have to have safeguards.”
  —Kay Bailey Hutchison ([42:12])

• Mistrust is high due to perceived consistent Russian violations (especially INF) and Ukrainian war misinformation ([42:07]).

US and NATO Response to Russia

• Calls for tougher US sanctions: “We’re not doing enough. We should be coming down on Russia’s economy right now, today.” ([46:09])
• The importance of maintaining a united NATO and rebuilding trust with European allies ([51:53]).

The Case for Multilateral Nuclear Agreements

• Trump suggests “we'll just do a better agreement” and hints at bringing in “a couple of other players” (i.e., China).
• Hutchison concurs wider, trilateral treaties are preferable ([54:33]).

Notable Quotes

• “He [Putin] will tell an untruth to your face. And we now know that second term. We certainly know that we dealt with them in the first term.” ([48:45])
• “Having a START treaty... with Russia and China would make the world a better place.” ([54:33])

Key Timestamps for Reference

• [03:12]: Cuba confirms readiness for dialogue with the US.
• [07:15]: Cuba’s oil reserves discussion.
• [10:39, 10:54]: Denial of Russian/Chinese military installations.
• [14:01]: Discussion of resource allocation to hotels vs. electrical grid.
• [18:22 – 19:10]: Political prisoners controversy.
• [20:18 – 21:47]: Cuba’s military/security involvement in Venezuela clarified.
• [25:53 – 32:27]: Gaza ceasefire and Netanyahu’s strategy with Amos Kharel.
• [41:17 – 55:05]: US-Russia nuclear arms control discussion with Kay Bailey Hutchison.

Conclusion

This episode offers a rare, direct window into the political brinkmanship surrounding Cuba’s oil crisis and rising humanitarian threat, as Cuban leadership faces mounting US pressure and internal economic calamity. The conversations also illuminate the intersecting, fragile diplomatic fronts—in Gaza and global nuclear arms control—where the balance of power, security, and domestic politics remain sharply contested and uncertain.