Cuban President Condemns the US for Economic Strangulation
Cuba denounces new US coercive measures targeting its energy supply, vows international action, as Russia condemns Washington’s renewed campaign of economic strangulation.
CUBA | PUREWILAYAH.COM — Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has strongly denounced the latest coercive measures imposed by the United States, accusing Washington of pursuing a policy of economic strangulation aimed at punishing Cuba and intimidating countries that maintain energy cooperation with the island.
Speaking in response to new US actions targeting nations involved in energy trade with Cuba, Díaz-Canel described the measures as “coercive” and vowed to launch a broad international campaign to expose them.
“We are going to make an international denunciation in all possible spaces of this coercive measure,” the Cuban president said, stressing that Havana is already coordinating with allied countries and the wider international community — “the same one that supports Cuba every year when it votes against the blockade.”
Díaz-Canel expressed confidence that Cuba would not stand alone, describing the US move as a criminal act that would be widely rejected.
“We are sure that we will not be alone, that there will be understanding, international denunciation, and support for Cuba, because this is a criminal action,” he said.
Diaz-Canel: US Has No Right to Starve a Nation
Challenging Washington’s moral and legal authority, the Cuban president questioned the legitimacy of US interference in Cuba’s access to vital resources.
“What right does an empire have? What right does the government of a power have to deny what a small country needs in fuel to develop?” Díaz-Canel asked.
He emphasized that Cuba poses no threat to anyone, describing it as “a small country that fights every day against adversity to achieve its prosperity — the prosperity it deserves for its heroism.”
“A country that is not a threat to national security,” he added, directly rejecting Washington’s repeated justifications for sanctions and emergency measures.
Peaceful Dialogue — But Not Under Coercion
Reaffirming Cuba’s long-standing position, Díaz-Canel stressed Havana’s commitment to peace and dialogue, while firmly rejecting negotiations conducted under pressure.
“We are a country of peace,” he said. “Even in the midst of all this aggression and the blockade of all these years, we have said that we have the capacity and the willingness to dialogue with the government of the United States — but dialogue cannot be under pressure.”
Any dialogue, he said, must take place on the basis of equality and mutual respect, without preconditions. He also underscored that Cuba harbors no hostility toward the American people, pointing out that US sanctions obstruct cultural, scientific, educational, and humanitarian exchanges between the two societies.
Díaz-Canel concluded by pledging steadfast resistance to US aggression.
“All of this we are going to denounce. Without fear,” he said. “We have the conviction that we must overcome our problems ourselves, with our talent and with the courage of the Cuban people.”
He reaffirmed Cuba’s commitment to defending “the Homeland, the Revolution, and Socialism in the face of imperialist aggression.”
Russia Condemns US Actions Against Cuba
Russia has strongly condemned the latest US measures against Cuba, describing Washington’s declaration of a state of emergency as a renewed strategy of maximum pressure aimed at economically strangling the island.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said the move marks another aggressive escalation, following an executive order signed by US President Donald Trump allowing tariffs on countries supplying oil to Cuba under the pretext of national security.
Zakharova denounced the measures as violations of the UN Charter and international law, stressing that Moscow firmly rejects the illegitimate pressure imposed on Cuba, its leadership, and its people.
She emphasized that Russia’s cooperation with Cuba is mutually beneficial, not directed against any third party, and remains focused on strengthening international security and stability.
Earlier, Cuba’s Foreign Ministry condemned the US order as a “new escalation” of economic aggression, warning that Washington is seeking to impose a de facto fuel blockade by coercing third countries through trade sanctions. (PW)