Cuba accuses Rubio of reinforcing U.S. economic and energy blockade

Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez on Thursday accused U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio of strengthening the economic and energy blockade against the island with "usual and vulgar lies." Rodríguez's remarks followed the U.S. sanctioning of the state-owned company Unión Cuba-Petróleo (Cupet), which Washington claims includes key assets illegally expropriated from U.S. owners.

In a social media post, Rodríguez denounced Rubio, citing "conquest ambitions, presidential aspirations, and vengeful feelings of the elitist clique that propelled his political career." He asserted that Rubio uses "usual and vulgar lies, among the most aggressive, uncultured, and rabid enemies of Cuba" to justify the sanctions.

Earlier, Cuban Deputy Prime Minister Oscar Pérez-Oliva stated that the U.S. administration's sanction against Cupet deepens the energy blockade and constitutes "genocide against the Cuban people." Cupet was added to the U.S. Treasury Department's OFAC list, joining other sanctioned Cuban entities and officials, including President Miguel Díaz-Canel.

Rubio, however, declared that Cuba's communist government has long used energy as a weapon for repression and to enrich the regime. He alleged that Cuban leaders have diverted energy resources for personal gain by reselling barrels and hoarding supplies for military and intelligence forces. The U.S. State Department denied granting Vanguard Energy a license to circumvent the blockade, despite reports of advanced negotiations for the company to supply gasoline and diesel to Cuba.