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Russia and China have condemned the United States’ escalating pressure on Cuba as the country continues to grapple with a severe fuel shortage that has crippled everyday life for millions of citizens.
Getting into it: During a press conference in Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the situation in Cuba as “really critical,” attributing the worsening crisis to what he called “suffocating measures imposed by the United States.” He warned that these actions are “causing many difficulties for the country” and revealed that Russia is in “intensive contact” with Cuban officials to discuss “possible ways to resolve these problems, or at least to provide all possible assistance.” Russian officials have also denounced the US strategy of targeting Cuba’s energy lifelines, especially in light of the January US military raid that resulted in the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
China echoed Russia’s stance, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stating in Beijing that “China firmly supports Cuba in safeguarding its national sovereignty and security, and opposes foreign interference.” He added that China was committed to helping Cuba and was against the deprivation of “the Cuban people of their rights to subsistence and development,” labeling such measures as “non-human behaviors.”
This all comes as Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez denounced US sanctions as “cruel aggression” designed to “break the political will of the Cuban people,” while President Miguel Díaz-Canel said Cuba is willing to engage in talks with the US, but not under pressure. At the same time, the Cuban government has rolled out a wide range of measures to conserve energy. These include shortening the workweek for public sector workers, shutting down universities, limiting school hours, and halting the sale of aviation fuel.
Mexico has also stepped up with substantial humanitarian aid by sending two Mexican Navy vessels, the Papaloapan and the Isla Holbox, with over 800 tonnes of critical supplies, including food staples like rice, beans, milk, meat products, and hygiene items. President Claudia Sheinbaum, whose country has halted oil shipments to Cuba over the threat of US tariffs, has condemned US sanctions on Cuba as “very unfair.”
