Cuba Questions U.S. Stance on Sanctions and Denounces Coercive Measures

Rodríguez reiterated that the coercive measures directly affect the island’s economic and social development, as well as its ability to maintain cooperative ties with third countries.

Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez denounced how U.S. measures against Cuba punish the Cuban people. Photo: ACN

March 31, 2026 Hour: 3:10 pm

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Threats against countries that try to export fuel to the island are one of the most recent coercive tactics used by the U.S.

On Tuesday, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez questioned the U.S. government’s stance rejecting the notion that the measures applied against the island are punitive. The minister argued that the economic blockade essentially represents a punitive action that contradicts Washington’s official statements regarding the nature of its current policies toward the Caribbean nation.

This statement refers to the executive order signed on January 29 by U.S. President Donald Trump, which authorizes Washington to impose tariffs on goods from countries that supply oil to Cuba.

Likewise, the head of Cuban diplomacy denounced the persistent financial persecution of Cuban transactions abroad and the restrictions imposed on merchant ships operating in the nation’s ports, factors that limit the international trade of the largest of the Antilles.

The Foreign Minister also emphasized the impact of travel bans on U.S. citizens and Cuba’s inclusion on lists he described as arbitrary, such as the State Sponsors of Terrorism list and the lists of restricted entities or accommodations.

Now the #US government is saying it has not taken any "punitive" action whatsoever against #Cuba.

What is the economic blockade, if not a punitive action? What is the threat against any country that exports fuels to Cuba, if not a punitive action? What is the financial… pic.twitter.com/NmFBVZDwr3
— Bruno Rodríguez P (@BrunoRguezP) March 31, 2026

Finally, Rodríguez condemned the pressure exerted on Latin American and Caribbean governments to terminate their medical cooperation agreements with Cuba. The Foreign Minister maintained that these maneuvers seek to deprive the country of its legitimate income, reaffirming that such actions have the sole purpose of punishing the Cuban people by weakening their international cooperation programs.

Additionally, the minister criticized the promises of resources that the U.S. government is offering in exchange for expelling the Cuban medical personnel. Rodríguez asserted that such financial and material benefits are deceptive, stating, “We know they will never reach or benefit those populations.”

Rodríguez reiterated that these coercive measures directly affect the island’s economic and social development, as well as its capacity to maintain cooperative ties with third countries.