Cuba Slams US Blockade
Cuba Denounces US 'Total Blockade,' Accuses Washington of 'Military-Like' Coercion and Blackmail
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Cuba has accused the United States of imposing a "total blockade" on the island, describing it as "similar to a military one." Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla charged that Washington is "blackmailing" sovereign nations into cutting cooperation deals with Havana — including medical and energy agreements that keep the country running. Diario Córdoba reported the denunciation on June 20, 2026.
The accusation is Cuba's sharpest yet. The island is already reeling from power outages lasting up to 72 consecutive hours and an economy projected to shrink 6.5% in 2026. Over 1 million Cubans — nearly 10% of the population — have left since 2022, according to the BTI Project.
Washington's Pressure Campaign Cuts Off Cuba's Fuel Supply
The crisis escalated sharply in early 2026. On January 29, President Trump signed an executive order declaring a national emergency over Cuba. The order authorized trade tariffs on any country that ships oil to the island. Within weeks, Mexico — Cuba's second-largest oil supplier — canceled a major shipment under threat of U.S. retaliation, according to El Periódico.
Cuba depends on imports for most of its energy. After a U.S.-backed intervention ousted Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro, the island lost its main source of cheap oil. Russia stepped in occasionally — one tanker delivered 730,000 barrels in March 2026 — but it has not been enough. The government says it needs $1.6 billion per year just to cover basic fuel costs.
Cuba Says the U.S. Is 'Blackmailing' Its Allies Into Isolation
Rodríguez Parrilla said the U.S. is not just targeting Cuba directly. Washington is also pressuring other countries to end their cooperation contracts with Havana. Honduras, Guatemala, and Jamaica have already cut or scaled back medical agreements with Cuba, according to Levante EMV. Those contracts were Cuba's main source of hard currency.
The minister also said U.S. sanctions block Cuba from buying spare parts for its power plants. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has pushed back, saying the energy crisis is caused by "government incompetence" — not U.S. policy. Trump has gone further, saying Cuba "won't be able to survive" the current pressure, framing it as a tool for regime change.
Humanitarian Toll Mounts as Economy Nears Collapse
The numbers are stark. Cuba reported $7.55 billion in material damages between March 2024 and February 2025 alone — a 49% jump from the year before. Food and medicine supplies have dropped by an estimated 60–70%. The infant mortality rate has risen from 4.0 to 9.2 deaths per 1,000 live births, according to La Opinión de Murcia.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk warned that expanding U.S. sanctions is causing "widespread damage" and "putting lives at risk." The UN General Assembly has voted 32 times to condemn the U.S. embargo. The most recent vote was nearly unanimous — only the U.S. and Israel voted against the resolution.
Cuba Turns to China and Russia as Tensions Reach New High
Facing isolation, Cuba is moving closer to Beijing and Moscow. China is investing in Cuban solar energy to help the island bypass the oil embargo. Russia has used its navy to escort some tankers through U.S.-monitored shipping lanes. Analysts warn this creates a potential flashpoint for superpower conflict in the Caribbean, according to El Correo Web.
Cuba's description of the blockade as "military in nature" may signal a new legal strategy. Havana could escalate its case in international courts or seek formal military-backed energy escorts from allies. Without a change in U.S. policy or steady fuel from Russia, analysts warn Cuba's power grid faces a total collapse — and with it, unprecedented unrest on the island.
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