While the world’s attention is focused on the Middle East, Inside Politics looks at the US sphere of influence on Cuba, which is facing ever tightening economic sanctions.

Cuban governments have survived attempts to overthrow it by multiple US administrations going all the way back to Dwight Eisenhower following the revolution led by Fidel Castro in 1959.

Over the decades, Cuban governments have managed to survive crippling economic sanctions largely because of its allies in the region, namely Venezuela.

In recent weeks, the US Navy has amassed a huge number of vessels in the Caribbean Sea to stop oil imports to Cuba, and the US government has threatened sanctions on Mexico if it tries to deliver oil to the island.

But why now? And what impact will it have on the Cuban government, and on the lives of the people there.

The journalist Hannah McCarthy travelled to Cuba to find out.

“What we’re seeing is just a grinding halt of daily life” she said.

“Buses not running. Rolling blackouts that were already happening before are increasing" and "people's lives have contracted to finding food or running water".

"Cuban's are fed up" she added.

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Why is the US blocking oil imports to Cuba?