Cuba is increasingly concerned that the current economic crisis may lead it back to the dire conditions experienced during the Special Period of the 1990s. In Havana, discussions have resurfaced about the potential for absolute fuel shortages, mirroring the experiences from three decades ago. The term "Opción Cero" highlights the country's apprehension about facing a lack of basic resources, a situation reminiscent of the hardships endured in the past.

The roots of this fear trace back to the disintegration of the Soviet Union, which cut off Cuba from its primary ally and vital fuel supplies, leading to an economic collapse described by Cuban authorities as the "Special Period in Peacetime." Fidel Castro’s ominous predictions on the loss of Soviet support were starkly realized just over two years later, thrusting Cuba into the worst economic crisis it had ever known, which was further exacerbated by intensified U.S. embargo measures.

As economic conditions continue to deteriorate and the external pressures of the U.S. embargo loom, Cubans are increasingly drawing parallels to their past. The possibility of returning to such a state raises significant concerns, not only for the government but also for the everyday lives of ordinary Cubans who faced extreme scarcity of food, energy, and essential goods during the 1990s. Such a scenario would not only impact economic stability but could also lead to social unrest as people grapple with increasing hardships.