US accused of piracy by Cuban official over sanctions on Caribbean island

Cuba’s Ambassador to Colombia Carlos de Cespedes has stated that the United States’ pressure on Venezuela will not lead to Cuba being subjugated. The comments come as US forces have abducted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and blocked oil shipments from the country to Cuba.

De Cespedes described the US actions as an “international piracy” in the Caribbean Sea, which is restricting the arrival of oil to Cuba. He noted that Cuba has faced significant threats from the US since the revolution in 1959, including punishing sanctions and military threats.

The flow of oil from Venezuela to Cuba has largely ceased since Maduro’s abduction earlier this month. The US has been intercepting and seizing Venezuelan oil tankers in the Caribbean, a move that critics say amounts to piracy.

Cuba has continued to import oil from other sources, including Mexico, but without Venezuelan oil, its economy could be severely impacted. The Trump administration is reportedly considering imposing a complete energy blockade on Cuba, which could lead to a humanitarian crisis.

De Cespedes stated that the US pressure “will not change anything” and that Cuba will not be intimidated or broken by the lack of oil shipments. He cited the thoughts of Fidel Castro, the anti-imperialist leader of the Cuban revolution, who said that Cubans do not fear the US and will defend their country’s sovereignty.

The US has had hostile relations with Cuba since the rise of President Fidel Castro in 1959. The Trump administration has several anti-Cuban government officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is of Cuban descent.

Source: Al Jazeera