Canada is preparing an aid package for Cuba as the island nation faces severe fuel shortages and blackouts exacerbated by U.S. sanctions. Foreign Minister Anita Anand announced the plan Monday but declined to provide specific details, stating officials are still finalizing the assistance package.

Cuba's energy crisis has intensified dramatically since early January when oil shipments from Venezuela were halted following U.S. military action against the South American country. Mexico, another key supplier, subsequently suspended deliveries under U.S. pressure. The shortages have forced Air Canada and other airlines to cancel flights due to aviation fuel scarcity.

Canadian tourism and investment are vital to Cuba's economy, with Canada ranking as the island's second-largest source of direct investment, particularly in mining and tourism sectors. Mexico has already sent humanitarian aid, with two Navy ships delivering 800 tons of goods plus 1,500 tons of powdered milk and beans earlier this month. The economic crisis gripping Cuba since 2020 has been compounded by intensified U.S. sanctions aimed at forcing political change, leading to critical shortages and severe blackouts that peaked in early 2026.