Cuba’s government has condemned “in the strongest terms” the decision by President Trump to sign on 29 January an Executive Order that threatens to impose tariffs on any nation exporting “directly or indirectly” any type of oil to Cuba.
In a formal declaration, Cuba’s Government said on 30 January that the new escalation represented an attempt by the US government “to impose an absolute blockade on fuel supplies to our country.” Observing that the US decision ”constitutes a flagrant violation of international law” and that Cuba is “not subject to sanctions by the international community,“ it noted that Washington ”through blackmail, threats, and direct coercion of third countries” is attempting the “economic strangulation” of Cuba.
The international community, it wrote, “faces the unavoidable challenge of defining whether a crime of this nature can be a sign of what is to come or whether sanity, solidarity and rejection of aggression, impunity and abuse will prevail.” Cuba’s government added that nothing will break its “resolve to defend its national sovereignty and prevent Cuba from falling, once again, under US domination.”
At press time, speaking aboard Airforce One, President Trump said: “We are talking with the people of Cuba, with the highest officials in Cuba. We’ll see what happens. I think we’re going to reach an agreement with Cuba.” No further details were provided.
Source: Cuba Briefing