Cuban Foreign Minister Blames U.S. for Humanitarian Crisis
In a recent address in Geneva, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez accused the United States of attempting to create a “humanitarian catastrophe” in Cuba through an oil blockade he described as a serious escalation. He pointed to the restrictions imposed after the U.S. cut off crucial oil supplies from Venezuela, following the removal of Venezuela’s president, Nicolas Maduro. Rodriguez highlighted that these actions are meant to impose further sanctions on countries that trade oil with Cuba.
“Currently, the U.S. has implemented an energy blockade, which aims to cause a humanitarian crisis while falsely claiming that Cuba poses a significant threat to its national security,” Rodriguez stated during the Conference on Disarmament. He noted that Cuba has been facing a long-standing trade embargo since 1962, leading to persistent power outages and shortages of fuel, medicine, and food—issues that worsened after losing its main oil supplier last month.
Rodriguez condemned these actions as illegal and harmful, arguing they amount to collective punishment against the Cuban people. In his speech, he rejected U.S. claims that Cuba is an extraordinary threat, asserting, “Cuba does not pose a danger to the United States or any other nation.”
He emphasized that it is not Cuba that seeks to dominate others, but rather the U.S. that uses strategies of power to influence and control foreign nations. Rodriguez referred to President Trump’s view of Cuba as a “failed nation,” urging for a more cooperative approach between Cuba and the U.S.
In a follow-up appearance at the UN Human Rights Council, he expressed Cuba’s resolve to avert a full-blown humanitarian crisis, although he acknowledged that it would mean enduring more hardships. He also highlighted the worrying situation described by the UN human rights office regarding Cuba’s worsening socio-economic conditions.
Despite the challenges, Rodriguez insisted that Cuba will continue to defend its sovereignty and independence, stressing that the nation does not pose a threat to anyone.
