Havana, Cuba - The US on Tuesday extended its decades-long trade embargo on Cuba by another year, drawing fury from the island's communist government.

President John F. Kennedy first established the embargo in 1962 by invoking the "Trading with the Enemy Act," which allows Washington to restrict trade with countries it considers foes.

Since 1978, every single US leader has renewed the provision annually.

Tuesday's extension therefore did not come as a surprise, but does coincide with one of the most difficult moments in Cuba's modern history.

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Island residents endure regular rolling blackouts and face chronic food and fuel shortages on a daily basis.

The government blames the crisis on a US energy blockade imposed on Cuba in January, among other punitive measures, while Washington attributes the hardship to poor internal management.

Havana condemned the extension "in the strongest terms," Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez wrote on X.

He called the embargo "a genocidal policy" and accused Washington of being "intent on suffocating an entire nation."

"This extension comes at the cruellest moment of the US offensive against Cuba in recent years," he said.

President Donald Trump, who has openly mused about seizing control of the island, has piled on more measures against Havana since taking office for the second time.

These include the energy blockade that prevents fuel from reaching Cuba, and sanctions on state-linked entities.

Havana taxi driver Antonio Rodriguez (40) told AFP the US should begin trading with its neighbor "to see whether it's the government or the embargo" provoking the crisis.

"We are struggling to survive; many times the money just isn't enough. But we have to keep going," said Juan Licea, a 68-year-old retiree.