Cuba Denounces Escalation of U.S. Coercive Measures
Cuba’s vice foreign minister accused Washington of intensifying sanctions while defending Havana’s efforts to address economic and energy challenges.
Cuban officials denounced the tightening of U.S. sanctions and defended the country’s sovereignty and energy strategy during a televised interview. Photo:
Cancillería de Cuba
@CubaMINREX
May 29, 2026 Hour: 3:22 am
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Vice Foreign Minister Josefina Vidal says new sanctions are deepening economic pressure while expanding the extraterritorial reach of U.S. policy toward Cuba.
Cuba’s Vice Foreign Minister Josefina Vidal has condemned what she described as a renewed escalation of U.S. coercive measures against the island, arguing that Washington continues to tighten restrictions despite maintaining channels of communication with Havana.
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Increased Sanctions and Economic Pressure
In an interview with PBS News Hour on Thursday, Vidal said U.S. policies continue to significantly affect Cuba and its population. She argued that pressure on the Caribbean nation “has increased and intensified” through what she described as an energy blockade and new secondary sanctions targeting foreign companies and individuals engaged in trade or business operations with Cuba.
According to the Cuban diplomat, these measures expand the extraterritorial application of U.S. sanctions and further reinforce economic pressures on the country.
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs,@JosefinaVidalF, intervened in the Parliamentary Public Hearing “Cuba Wants Peace” convened by @AsambleaCuba and emphasized: “if war that we do not want is imposed on us, we will face it with determination.”
Vidal also highlighted government efforts to address ongoing economic and energy challenges through a rapid expansion of renewable energy generation.
“We have doubled in just a few months the production of energy through renewable sources, mainly through a very accelerated investment in photovoltaic energy,” she said.
Rejecting Allegations Against Raúl Castro
The vice foreign minister also rejected accusations made in the United States against Cuban leader Raúl Castro regarding the downing of aircraft belonging to the Brothers to the Rescue organization three decades ago.
Vidal described those allegations as “illegitimate, illegal and totally fraudulent” and argued that responsibility for the events lies with the U.S. government. She said Cuba had “exhausted all diplomatic channels” and repeatedly warned Washington about continued violations of Cuban airspace.
Addressing broader bilateral relations, Vidal stated that Cuba “is not and has never been a threat to the United States.” She also noted that the only foreign military installation on Cuban territory is the Guantánamo Naval Base, which she said remains under U.S. control “against the will of the Cuban Government and people.”
The diplomat further argued that accusations against Cuba serve as “a pretext” to justify additional sanctions. She also criticized recent remarks by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, saying they demonstrated a lack of understanding of Cuban history.
“We are proud of our independence and our determination to defend it,” Vidal said.
Author: MK
Source: @CubaMINREX / Agencies