Trump’s ‘Don-Roe Doctrine’ Just Backfired as Russia Steps in to Save Cuba From His ‘Sanctions Noose’
A geopolitical tug-of-war.
Russia just threw Cuba a lifeline as the Trump administration’s “Don-roe Doctrine” backfires spectacularly. During a Thursday May 21, 2026, briefing, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova vowed “active support” for the island nation, directly blaming the U.S. for tightening what she called a “sanctions noose” around Cuba’s economy.
According to The Hill, the move comes as Cuba’s energy grid teeters on collapse, with rolling blackouts in Havana stretching up to 22 hours a day. The Russian intervention is a game-changer. Zakharova didn’t hold back in her criticism of the White House. She slammed the U.S. embargo as “a direct reflection of Washington’s intolerance of any dissent” and a “cynical embodiment of a revived Monroe Doctrine.”
That’s a sharp dig at Donald Trump’s “Don-roe Doctrine,” his twist on the 19th-century policy that warned European powers to stay out of the Western Hemisphere. Trump has made it clear he’s targeting Cuba, especially after the indictment of former Cuban President Raúl Castro and five others. When asked about military intervention, Trump said, “We have Cuba on our mind. There won’t be escalation. I don’t think there needs to be.”
But with Russia stepping in, the situation is far from stable
Cuba’s energy crisis is dire. The country is almost entirely dependent on Venezuelan oil, but that supply dried up after the U.S. military operation in January that led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. Since then, only one oil shipment has reached Cuba – a 730,000-barrel delivery from a Russian-flagged tanker that’s already run out.
Cuban Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy didn’t mince words when he told state media, “We have absolutely no fuel (oil), and absolutely no diesel.” The Trump administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign is clearly having an impact, but it’s also pushing Cuba straight into Russia’s arms.
Russia’s promise of support isn’t just talk. The country has been flexing its military muscle in ways that should make the West take notice. On the same day Zakharova made her remarks, Russia test-fired a slew of nuclear-capable missiles during military exercises. Daily Express reported that the Russian Ministry of Defense launched the “Yars” and “Sineva” intercontinental ballistic missiles, along with hypersonic missiles from the “Zircon” and “Kinzhal” systems.
Belarus, a close Russian ally, also conducted a test launch of an “Iskander” missile as part of the drills. These exercises are part of a three-day nuclear missile test, a clear warning to NATO and the U.S.
The timing of these tests is no coincidence
Just last week, Russia announced it had successfully tested its “Sarmat” nuclear-capable rocket, dubbed the “Satan-2” by Western analysts. Putin claims the missile can carry four times the payload of comparable Western systems, making it a formidable threat.
The drills also come amid rising tensions in the Baltic region, where NATO fighters were scrambled in Lithuania after reported drone incursions from Belarus. Lithuanian authorities even issued an air raid warning, closing the airport in Vilnius and sending children to shelters. It’s a stark reminder of how quickly things can escalate.
Russia’s military posturing isn’t limited to missile tests. Earlier this week, the country issued a chilling warning after a Romanian F-16 jet, part of NATO’s air policing forces, shot down a drone over southern Estonia. The drone is believed to be Ukrainian, and Russia has made it clear that any Ukrainian drones launched from Baltic countries could trigger retaliation.
Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur confirmed the drone was likely targeting Russian assets, saying, “Most probably, today we can say that it was a drone which was, let’s say, meant to hit some Russian targets.” Ukraine has been ramping up drone strikes inside Russia, focusing on energy facilities and arms factories, which has only added to the tensions.
For Cuba, Russia’s support couldn’t come at a better time
The island’s economy is in freefall, with U.S. sanctions cutting off critical oil supplies and threatening any company that tries to do business with the Cuban government. The “maximum pressure” campaign is designed to push regime change, but so far, it’s only deepened Cuba’s reliance on Russia.
Zakharova’s promise of “active support” suggests Russia is ready to step in with more than just words. Whether that means more oil shipments, financial aid, or even military assistance remains to be seen, but it’s clear the U.S. strategy isn’t working as intended.
The bigger picture here is how Russia is positioning itself as a counterbalance to U.S. influence in the Western Hemisphere. The Monroe Doctrine, which Trump has playfully rebranded as the “Don-roe Doctrine,” was meant to keep foreign powers out of the Americas. But with Russia now openly supporting Cuba, that doctrine is looking shakier than ever.
U.S.-Cuba relations are about to get a lot more complicated. Trump’s approach has pushed Cuba into Russia’s orbit, and with Moscow’s nuclear tests sending a clear message to the West, the stakes are higher than ever.
(Featured image: Presidential Press and Information Office)
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