Cuba Accuses US of Provoking Social Unrest Through Economic Pressure

Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez has accused Washington of implementing a "maximum pressure" policy aimed at diminishing the Cuban government's capacity to provide essential goods and services. Rodríguez stated that this strategy intends to incite public frustration, trigger social unrest, and ultimately alter the constitutional order.

Rodríguez detailed how US sanctions, particularly those targeting the banking and financial sectors, relentlessly attack Cuba's primary sources of foreign income. He pointed to the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and other agencies imposing over $4 billion in fines on third-country financial, insurance, travel, technology, and logistics entities for alleged violations of the U.S. embargo against Cuba. These measures, he noted, are an extension of policies initiated during the Trump administration.

Specific sanctions mentioned include the prohibition on Fincimex and American International Services (AIS) from processing remittances since September 2020. The minister also highlighted sanctions against the Banco Financiero Internacional starting January 1, 2021, and the designation of financial institutions allegedly operating under Gaesa. Furthermore, Cuba's re-inclusion on the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism in 2021 and 2025 was condemned.

These accusations coincide with a period of intense strain between Cuba and the United States, marked by a severe internal crisis on the island and Washington's stringent policies. The Cuban economy is reportedly near paralysis due to an energy crisis, following a 15% contraction between 2020 and 2025. Independent forecasts suggest a potential 6.5% contraction this year. The US pressure is seen as having a tangible social cost, contributing to widespread power outages that disrupt daily life, cripple public transportation, limit hospital services, and hinder industrial and telecommunications operations.