BUTOLPOST.COM – Hot tensions have once again enveloped relations between Cuba and the United States. The Cuban government has openly accused Washington of intensifying an “economic war” which it believes is increasingly strangling the island nation.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla issued strong criticism of the United States’ latest policy. He assessed that the economic pressure exerted was not just an ordinary form of sanctions, but had led to actions that violated international law.
“The US has been trying to destroy Cuba for decades through economic war, and in the last two months its intensity has increased,” said Rodriguez in his statement.
He also mentioned indications of military threats that were said to have arisen from statements by high-ranking US officials. According to him, the combination of economic pressure, energy restrictions and the threat of aggression is a form of “international crime”.
The situation in Cuba itself is now increasingly worrying. The ongoing fuel crisis has triggered widespread power outages in various regions, including the capital Havana. This condition is said to be a direct impact of the energy supply restriction policy.
On the other hand, US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, strongly denied these accusations. He emphasized that his government had never implemented an oil blockade against Cuba.
“There is no oil blockade of Cuba,” Rubio said at a news conference.
However, Cuba immediately rejected this denial. Rodriguez believes that this statement is contrary to the policies of President Donald Trump, who is considered to have issued an executive order to pressure countries supplying fuel to Cuba.
According to him, this policy has actually hampered energy distribution. In fact, in the last four months, only one fuel tanker has managed to reach Cuba.
“All our suppliers are being intimidated and threatened. This clearly violates the rules of free trade and freedom of navigation,” he stressed.
Not only that, Cuba also highlighted secondary sanctions policies in the energy sector which increasingly narrowed the country’s access to fuel supplies. As a result, the energy crisis deepened and the Cuban people had to bear the heavy burden of prolonged power outages.
This tension adds to a long list of conflicts between the two countries that have been going on for decades. With mutual accusations becoming increasingly sharp, it is feared that the situation could potentially trigger a greater escalation in the Caribbean region.***
