Cuban government accuses Pompeo of lying to promote military intervention

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez accused U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday of lying to the U.S. Senate to provoke a humanitarian crisis and promote military intervention in Cuba. Rodríguez asserted on social media that Pompeo lacks legitimate arguments to justify the U.S. designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism. "His mask is crumbling. His political motivation is clear and his sole aim: to asphyxiate the Cuban economy by all possible means, provoke a humanitarian crisis, and promote a military intervention in Cuba," the Cuban minister added. The previous day, Pompeo had accused Havana of "sponsoring terrorism" and harboring Chinese and Russian intelligence facilities during a Senate hearing, claims that Cuba has consistently rejected. Rodríguez criticized the U.S. Senate for allowing what he termed "the lie of a public servant." Pompeo had previously raised similar concerns about intelligence services and military bases of "adversaries" in Cuba during an April interview with Fox News, warning that the U.S. would not permit such enclaves just 90 miles from its territory. These arguments were echoed by then-President Donald Trump, who cited China specifically when issuing an executive order on January 29th that declared the island an "unusual and extraordinary threat" and imposed an oil blockade against Havana. Pompeo also stated on Tuesday that Cuba requires "systemic and serious reform" to cease being a "failed state" and a "threat" to Washington. The U.S. continues to exert pressure on Cuba, seeking significant economic and political reforms. In addition to the oil blockade, which has worsened the country's economic and energy crisis, sanctions target key sectors of the economy, including energy, defense, mining, and financial services. U.S. Executive Order 14404 allows Washington to freeze assets of any individual or company operating in these sectors or doing business with the Cuban government, leading several international shipping, mining, and hotel companies to announce the cessation of their activities on the island in recent weeks. Trump had threatened to "take control" of the country, and Havana has denounced that Washington is preparing a military aggression.

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Pompeo lacks arguments before the Congress of his country to sustain the imposition of this criminal measure.