[Editor’s note] Recently, U.S. imperialist leader Trump declared that he would impose economic sanctions on Cuba, cut off Cuba’s overseas oil supply sources, and threaten to impose tariffs on all countries continuing to supply oil to Cuba. The Cuban president responded firmly, stating that Trump’s actions are “fascist, criminal, and genocidal.” The hegemonistic acts of U.S. imperialism undoubtedly demonstrate the ambitions of the American monopoly bourgeoisie, represented by Trump, for invasion and expansion, eager to politically remove this comprador regime controlled by the social imperialism of China and the revisionist Soviet Union. Despite its domestic economic difficulties and internal and external crises, the Cuban revisionist regime maintains a tough stance against U.S. imperialism, which does not reflect its strength but rather exposes its weakness, using such bravado to cover up its paper tiger nature.
[Reuters Washington/Havana, 29th] U.S. President Trump threatened Thursday evening to impose new tariffs on countries supplying oil to Cuba, escalating pressure on this island under communist rule—long-time U.S. adversary.
This action is authorized under an executive order based on a national emergency declaration but does not specify tariff rates or name any countries.
Trump said this move was to protect “U.S. national security and foreign policy from malicious actions and policies of the Cuban regime.”
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel responded Friday morning, stating that Trump’s argument is baseless.
Díaz-Canel said, “This new measure shows that a group, for its own profit, has hijacked the interests of the American people. Its essence is fascist, criminal, and genocidal.”
Cuban state media warned Thursday evening that this ban would plunge the already severely crisis-ridden island into comprehensive paralysis of power supply, agricultural production, water systems, and medical services. In a televised evening broadcast, the Cuban government issued a statement: “The U.S. government will strangle all aspects of Cuban life.”
Inspired by the earlier U.S. military raid and arrest of Venezuela’s ousted President Nicolás Maduro, Trump has repeatedly threatened to take action against Cuba and pressure its leadership.
This week, Trump claimed that “Cuba will soon collapse,” adding that Venezuela—the country that was Cuba’s largest oil supplier—has recently neither supplied oil nor provided funds to Cuba.
Last week, Reuters exclusively reported that Mexico, which became Cuba’s largest supplier after Venezuela stopped oil shipments in December last year, is also cautiously evaluating whether to continue supplying oil, due to increasing concerns about possible U.S. retaliation.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez stated that Trump’s tariff threats violate international law.
Rodríguez said, “The U.S. resort to extortion and coercion, attempting to force other countries to join its widely condemned blockade policy against Cuba. If refused, it threatens to impose arbitrary tariffs, violating all rules of free trade.”
Throughout his second term, Trump has consistently used tariff threats as a tool of diplomatic policy.
