Cuba Denounces U.S. Sanctions as Economic Warfare

On May 1, 2026, Cuba's government condemned a new executive order signed by the White House, described as one of the harshest measures imposed against the nation in decades. The Cuban Foreign Minister issued a strong statement denouncing the U.S.

Treasury Department's decision on May 7 to place the Cuban conglomerate GAESA and the mining company Moanickel on a special designation list, effectively cutting them off from the American financial system. The Cuban government characterized these actions as ruthless economic aggression aimed at tightening the long-standing U.S. blockade against Cuba, which has already led to severe shortages of fuel, food, medicine, and foreign exchange.

The statement accused U.S. officials, particularly the Secretary of State, of using intimidation and political pressure to enforce compliance with blockade policies. The Cuban government warned that the new sanctions could provoke economic collapse and social unrest, further deteriorating living conditions on the island.

The ongoing sanctions have been a point of contention between the U.S. and Cuba since the early 1960s.