Withdraw US economic blockade: Cuban diplomat
Cuban Ambassador to India Juan Carlos Marsán has said the United States has intensified its economic, trade and financial blockade against Cuba by imposing new oil supply restrictions and secondary sanctions.
He told a press conference at the Press Club of India on October 23 that the Cuban resolution calling for the end to US embargo will be discussed in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on October 27-28.
The ‘Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba’ resolution will be discussed for the 34th time.
The Cuban ambassador said the blockade, which has lasted for over 65 years, has been intensified by the current administration with new oil supply restrictions, new secondary sanctions and Cuba being placed on the list of state sponsors of terrorism.
Marsán said that US President Donald Trump issued an executive order on January 29, declaring a national emergency due to what Washington claims is an "unusual and extraordinary threat" to US national security and foreign policy by Cuba.
But he said that there was no basis for this declaration as Cuba is a small island.
This action was taken to "strengthen the blockade" by threatening to impose 25 per cent tariffs on countries supplying oil to Cuba.
"Cuba is an independent country so we have the right to buy oil from anyone we want. And every country has the right to sell us oil," he said.
Marsán said Cuba has not received any oil for the past 10 months, aside from one shipment from Russia on March 30 for humanitarian reasons. He said that threats of force have been made on countries wanting to supply oil to Cuba.
Another executive order was signed on May 1, imposing secondary sanctions on third country businesses dealing with Cuba. This action threatens foreign companies with the seizure of their assets in the US.
Washington has also continued to add Cuban institutions, businesses and individuals to unilateral sanctions banning them from financial and trade links with US entities and their subsidiaries globally.
By placing Cuba on the list of state sponsors of terrorism, this has meant that Cuba has less access to international financial institutions, Marsán said.
He said Cuba has been wrongly labelled as a state sponsor of terrorism and has been a victim of terrorism from the US for over six decades.
Impact on everyday life
Marsán said that supply restrictions, financial sanctions and limited access to international banks have impacted essential services and economic activity.
He gave statistics from the report Cuba sent to the United Nations.
The report states that the blockade has cost Cuba an estimated $8.083 billion in economic damage during the reporting year, while cumulative losses over 65 years reached $178.7 billion.
Without the blockade, Cuba’s GDP in 2025 would have been 10.8 per cent higher.
Cuba is facing a fuel shortage of 2.67 million tonnes and has not been able to supply the amount of fuel they planned to by the end of May 2026. Households are facing average power cuts of 20 hours and nearly two million people do not have regular access to water due to energy shortages.
Healthcare, agriculture, transport, food production and communication have been impacted.
There are around 100,000 patients on a surgical waiting list, with 12,000 of these being children. There are also 2,888 patients that require haemodialysis which requires a reliable electricity supply.
The report also states there has been an increase in infant mortality from four to five deaths per 1,000 live births to nine to 10 deaths per 1,000. However, the ambassador did not give any further information on this.
During the cold season campaign, irrigation has only been possible for around two hours a day, instead of the normal 16 hours. 2,900 tonnes of humanitarian food aid has also been impacted.
Marsán said the US is trying to force the Cuban population to comply through economic coercion. Ordinary people including children, pregnant women, elderly and patients with chronic illness are suffering.
However, he said Cubans are committed to protecting the independence of their country and their right to self-determination.
Cuba wants international backing
The ambassador said he was concerned about constant threats by high-ranking US officials to invade Cuba.
Cuba poses no threat to the US or any other country and does not have any foreign military bases. The only foreign military base in Cuba is the US illegal military base in Guantanamo Bay.
Marsán said Cuba is a peace loving nation and Havana has always encouraged international cooperation.
Cuba has received much international backing. 136 countries backed tackling the issue in a special session of the General Assembly on July 7 this year.
During the general debate of the General Assembly in September, 43 countries wanted the end of the economic blockade, oil supply restrictions and threats of military aggression.
Marsán said Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez recently held a press conference saying the US State Department are pressurising governments and representatives at the United Nations to change their stance on the Cuban resolution.
Marsán said that governments, UN representatives and even their family members have been threatened with blackmail.
However, he is confident that international backing will be given to reject the embargo when the General Assembly discusses the resolution later this month.
"The international community will not accept this injustice and they can’t. Today it’s Cuba but it could be any country tomorrow."
No country should suffer due to another country trying to force its political views and economic power upon them.
"We are an independent country. We have the right to decide our future and our present," Marsán said.
He concluded by saying he is confident the upcoming discussions at the UN will show the world’s support for ending the US embargo.
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