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Cuba's government has rejected new sanctions imposed by US President Donald Trump, with Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez condemning them as "illegal" and "abusive." In a statement posted on X, Rodriguez described the measures as "unilateral coercive measures" that constitute "collective punishment on the Cuban people," according to multiple reports.

The sanctions, announced via executive order on Friday, target individuals and entities operating in key sectors of Cuba's economy, including energy, defense, financial services, and security, as well as those deemed to be "material supporters" of the Cuban government, as reported by Al Jazeera and Dawn. The order also authorizes secondary sanctions on foreign companies and financial institutions that do business with Cuba, a move that could have implications for global firms, according to the South China Morning Post.

Coverage Comparison

The announcement of the sanctions coincided with International Workers' Day celebrations in Havana, where thousands of Cubans marched in a procession outside the US Embassy, vowing to "defend the homeland," as reported by France 24 and The Guardian. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel and former President Raul Castro participated in the celebrations, according to Al Jazeera.

Rodriguez's condemnation was widely covered, with several outlets quoting his social media posts. The BBC reported that Rodriguez called the sanctions "unilateral coercive measures" and "collective punishment," while TASS quoted him as saying the measures are "extraterritorial" and violate the UN Charter. Dawn noted that Rodriguez used the words "illegal" and "abusive" in a Spanish-language statement.

Key Claims

  • Sanctions target broad sectors of Cuba's economy: The executive order signed by Trump targets individuals and entities operating in the "energy, defense and related materiel, metals and mining, financial services, or security sector of the Cuban economy, or any other sector of the Cuban economy," as reported by France 24 and The Guardian. The order also authorizes sanctions on foreign financial institutions that facilitate significant transactions for designated entities, according to the South China Morning Post.
  • Sanctions include military-controlled conglomerate: Al Jazeera reported that the sanctions target Grupo de Administracion Empresarial SA (GAESA), a conglomerate controlled by Cuba's military with ties to nearly all segments of its economy. The sanctions also target Ania Guillermina Lastres Morera, the executive president of GAESA and Moa Nickel SA, a joint venture with Toronto-based Sherritt International Corp.
  • Cuba calls sanctions 'collective punishment': Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said the sanctions "demonstrate an intention to impose, once again, collective punishment on the Cuban people," as reported by multiple outlets. He also said the US "has no right whatsoever to impose measures against Cuba or against third countries or entities," according to TASS and Al Jazeera.
  • US demands economic opening: France 24 and The Guardian reported that the US has long demanded Cuba open its state-run economy to foreign businesses. Cuba has said its form of socialist government is not up for negotiation.
  • Trump suggests US operations against Cuba: Trump told an audience in Florida that the US would be "taking over" Cuba "almost immediately," and suggested an aircraft carrier could be sent to force a surrender, as reported by the BBC and The Guardian. This claim was also mentioned by Al Jazeera and France 24.
  • US fuel blockade affecting Cuba: Multiple reports, including from Al Jazeera and The Guardian, describe an effective US fuel blockade that has caused widespread blackouts and fuel shortages. Al Jazeera reported that UN experts decried the blockade as tantamount to "energy starvation."

Perspectives

Cuban government: Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez condemned the sanctions as "unilateral coercive measures" and "collective punishment," arguing they violate the UN Charter. President Miguel Diaz-Canel said the measures reinforce the US's "brutal, genocidal" blockade against the island, as reported by the BBC and France 24.

US administration: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the sanctions "demonstrate that the Trump Administration will not stand by while Cuba's communist regime threatens our national security in our hemisphere," according to Al Jazeera. Trump has said the measures target those involved in corruption, human rights abuses, and support for the Cuban government.