Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez declared an international emergency on behalf of the country in response to US actions.
“The people of Cuba, with the solidarity of the international community, consider that the situation in relations with the United States government constitutes an unusual and exceptional threat, and hereby declare a state of international emergency in response to this threat“, the statement said.
Rodríguez characterized the US policy as anti-Cuban and neo-fascist, stating that it constitutes a threat to the national security and foreign policy of all countries, “as well as to the survival of humanity in the face of nuclear threats and climate change“.
On January 30, US President Donald Trump declared a state of emergency by executive order due to the threat to national security posed by Cuba. The document allows the United States to impose additional tariffs on imports from any country that directly or indirectly supplies oil to Cuba.
Trump described the decision as a response to “extraordinary measures“ taken by the Cuban government that harm and threaten the United States. The document states that the Cuban authorities cooperate with countries and groups “hostile to the United States” - Russia, China, Iran, as well as Hamas and Hezbollah.
The Trump administration predicts the imminent collapse of the Cuban government and openly seeks a change of government, amid harsher rhetoric following the US operation in Venezuela and the expulsion of President Nicolás Maduro. Trump claims that the Cuban economy is on the verge of collapse, with the republic “having no income” because the money flows there exclusively from Venezuela.
Strict measures to put pressure on Cuba are being discussed in Washington, including a possible complete blockade of oil supplies, the country's reserves of which may last only 15-20 days.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Paria said that Havana categorically condemns Washington's attempts to present Cuba as a threat and impose a fuel blockade. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, for his part, warned that the country is ready to defend itself.