Cubans protest US sanctions by riding bikes, electric tricycles

Mohan Sinha
07 Apr 2026, 00:04 GMT+10

With Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, Cubans paraded on bikes and electric tricycles along Havana's Malecon waterfront to protest US sanctions.
The protest rally in Havana, on bikes and electric tricycles, happened a day after Cuba’s top diplomat in Washington invited the U.S. to help fix Cuba’s struggling economy.
The Cuban government organizes large protests near the U.S. Embassy, but this one was smaller due to fuel shortages.

HAVANA, Cuba: Defying U.S. efforts to starve the island of fuel, Cuban activists paraded on bikes and electric tricycles along Havana's Malecon waterfront, accompanied by Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel.

People in a government-organized caravan drove past the U.S. Embassy in Havana using electric and pedal-powered vehicles. They carried flags and banners criticizing the sanctions placed on Cuba by Donald Trump's administration.

The rally happened a day after Cuba's top diplomat in Washington invited the U.S. to help fix Cuba's struggling economy, as part of talks that have not made progress yet.

People at the rally said they support talks with the U.S. but want respect for Cuba. One participant, a law student named Sheila Ibatao, said she believes real dialogue is possible, but Cuba's independence and international law must be respected.

President Miguel Díaz-Canel did not speak at the event.

The Cuban government often organizes large protests near the U.S. Embassy, but this one was smaller and quieter because fuel shortages have made travel difficult and affected public transport.

This week, a Russian oil tanker delivered about 700,000 barrels of crude oil to Cuba, which may help ease the situation in the coming weeks.

The Trump administration, which has warned it may impose tariffs on countries exporting oil to Cuba and has banned imports of Russian oil, said it allowed the tanker to dock in Cuba for humanitarian reasons.