Cuba’s President criticised the US after a new order warned of tariffs on countries supplying oil to the island, calling it an attempt to damage its economy.
Fresh tensions emerged on Saturday after
Washington signalled new trade measures linked to oil shipments to Cuba, prompting a sharp response from
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel. In posts on X, he said the latest step was aimed at squeezing the island’s economy and restricting its international trade.
“We condemn in the strongest terms the new escalation by the United States government against Cuba in its determination to impose an absolute blockade on fuel supplies to our country,” he said.
Diaz-Canel accused the
Trump administration of relying on force in its foreign policy and trying to dictate Cuba’s trading partners. He said Washington was claiming “the right to dictate to sovereign states which nations they may trade with”.
He added that the move was based on a “mendacious and empty pretext” and described it as an effort to “strangle the Cuban economy” by targeting countries involved in oil trade with Havana.
Despite the pressure, Diaz-Canel said Cuba would respond “with firmness, equanimity, and confidence that reason is absolutely on our side”. He ended one post with “Homeland or Death! We shall overcome!”
US imposes duties
The comments followed an executive order signed by President Donald Trump warning of fresh tariffs on countries that sell or provide oil to Cuba. The order allows the US to impose additional duties on imports from nations linked to such supplies.
Issued under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the order describes Cuba as an “extraordinary threat” to US national security and accuses its government of supporting hostile states and groups.
Cubans from different walks of life are increasingly facing longer power cuts and rising prices for food, fuel and transport, adding to the strain amid renewed US pressure that could further tighten Washington’s restrictions on the communist-run island.
Cuba is undergoing its most serious economic crisis since the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, once its main backer. Until recently, the Cuban economy spluttered by on cheap supplies of Venezuelan oil.
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