Cuba – Condemns US Tariffs Targeting Countries Supplying Oil, Calls Move Economic Coercion

2026-02-02 - 15:08

United States President Donald Trump signed an executive order on January 29, 2026, declaring a national emergency and designating Cuba as an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to U.S. national security. The order accuses the Cuban government of actions that allegedly harm U.S. interests and claims Havana aligns itself with hostile states and terrorist organizations, including Russia, China, Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah. The declaration provides the legal basis for the imposition of U.S. trade tariffs on goods originating from countries that supply oil to Cuba. The tariffs, which took effect on January 30, 2026, apply to any foreign government found to be providing petroleum to the island, either directly or indirectly. In announcing the measure, the U.S. administration stated that the tariff regime was necessary to address what it described as an ongoing national emergency. The executive order frames the policy as a tool to pressure Cuba economically and restrict access to critical fuel supplies. The Cuban government has responded with sharp condemnation, denouncing the move as an escalation aimed at imposing a total blockade on fuel imports. In an official statement, Havana described the action as aggressive, unjustified, and rooted in what it called a fabricated narrative portraying Cuba as a threat to U.S. security. Cuban authorities argued that the executive order violates international law, undermines national sovereignty, and threatens peace and stability in Latin America and the Caribbean. They further asserted that the claims used to justify the order are false or grossly exaggerated and lack credible evidence. According to the statement, Cuban officials believe the U.S. government is fully aware that the allegations against Cuba are unconvincing but continues to advance them to legitimize economic pressure and political coercion. The government accused Washington of showing contempt for truth, public opinion, and ethical governance in pursuit of its objectives against Cuba. Havana characterized the policy as part of a broader attempt by the United States to assert dominance through intimidation and to influence the sovereign decisions of other nations by targeting their trade relationships with Cuba. The government also argued that the action contradicts regional agreements, including the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace. Reflecting on decades of strained relations, Cuban officials said the measure represents the continuation of a long-standing effort to dismantle the country’s political system and undermine its sovereignty, an effort they say has failed for more than six decades. The Cuban government reaffirmed its commitment to sovereignty, peace, and dialogue based on international law and mutual respect. It rejected the notion that economic pressure would weaken its resolve, emphasizing that Cuba poses no threat to the United States or its citizens and has consistently advocated peaceful coexistence. The statement concluded by stressing the resilience of the Cuban people and their determination to defend national independence, expressing confidence in international solidarity and Cuba’s right to resist what it described as unjust aggression.