BASSETERRE, Saint Kitts and Nevis — The United States eased an oil embargo on Cuba but Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the island must make "dramatic" changes in return.

Rubio made the statement on Wednesday during a summit with other Caribbean countries on the island nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, where he also staunchly defended the forcible seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in January.

After Maduro's abduction, the US blocked Venezuela from sending oil to Cuba, which had relied on Venezuela for nearly half of its needs. It triggered fuel shortages and rolling blackouts on the island.

The Treasury Department announced Wednesday that the US would allow Venezuelan oil exports to Cuba, but only if they were used for commercial or humanitarian purposes. Rubio warned shipments would stop if it ends up in the hands of the government or military.

Even with the new policy, it is not clear whether Cuban companies can afford oil purchases as the country has struggled in recent years to pay for fuel imports on the spot market.

In addition, the Cuban government said this month it would allow some companies to import fuel to ease the energy crisis.

A Trump administration official who requested anonymity said the Treasury's move would help show private importers can get fuel in a way the government cannot.

No oil cargoes have departed from Venezuela since January without authorization from Washington, which now controls the country's exports and sale proceeds.

Rubio said Cuba has "a system that's in collapse, and they need to make dramatic reforms".

Deadly incident

Meanwhile, the Cuban government said four gunmen were killed and six others wounded on Wednesday after they sailed into Cuban waters aboard a speedboat and opened fire on soldiers.

Havana said the 10 passengers were Cubans coming from the US where they lived and were trying to infiltrate the island and unleash terrorism. The majority of those on the boat "have a known history of criminal and violent activity", the Cuba government said.

Rubio said that the US was still studying the "unusual" incident and would respond but said little information was verified.

Caribbean leaders at the summit warned that any further deterioration in Cuba would impact the region and trigger migration.

"Humanitarian suffering serves no one," Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness said. "A prolonged crisis in Cuba will not remain confined to Cuba."

Mexico has sent a second humanitarian aid package to Cuba. Two Mexican navy vessels carrying 1,193 tons of supplies departed the Gulf of Mexico port of Veracruz on Tuesday, the Mexican Foreign Ministry announced. The shipment is expected to arrive on Saturday.

Canada, which has long broken with its southern neighbor by maintaining warm relations with Havana, announced $5.8 million in aid for Cuba.

The economic crisis gripping Cuba has been compounded by intensified US sanctions aimed at forcing a change in the island's political model. These pressures led to critical shortages and severe blackouts that peaked in early 2026.

Agencies - Xinhua