German Foreign Minister denies U.S. blockade against Cuba, calls for better governance

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has refuted claims of a U.S. blockade against Cuba, asserting that the primary requirement for improved living conditions on the island is better governance. Speaking during a government open house event, Wadephul described Cuba as operating under an "injustice regime" and contrasted it with democratic societies where free expression is permitted without fear of reprisal.

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I see no blockade of that type.

Wadephul explained that Cuba had previously benefited significantly from economic ties and oil imports from Venezuela, a situation that has since changed due to decisions by the Venezuelan government. He emphasized that for the Cuban population to experience a better future, the country must be "governed better." "A blockade of that type that you describe, I do not see it," Wadephul told a citizen who inquired about the issue.

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In Cuba, an injustice regime prevails.

Germany, he added, supports Cuba through "active aid measures" and expressed hope for a better future for the Cuban people. This statement comes after Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez accused the U.S. of imposing a "total blockade" through an "economic asphyxiation plan." Rodríguez detailed that this plan prevents foreign companies from selling essential parts and technologies for Cuban thermoelectric plants and bars any global company from selling oil to the island.

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The prerequisite for the population of the island to live better would be that the country is governed better.

The U.S. government, under former President Donald Trump, had previously established an Executive Order threatening sanctions against foreign entities operating in vital sectors in Cuba. Cuba has been experiencing a severe energy crisis since mid-2024, exacerbated by what it describes as a U.S. oil siege, leading to prolonged power outages across the country and worsening its existing economic crisis.

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The U.S. maintains a total blockade against the Caribbean country through an economic asphyxiation plan.