Cuba's Diaz-Canel blasts US 'imperialism' over energy blockade, anti-Cuban 'propaganda'
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Thursday vowed to continue defending the country's sovereignty against what he described as US pressure and sanctions during the closing session of Cuba's National Assembly in Havana.
Diaz-Canel said the longstanding US embargo had cost Cuba more than $150 billion and continued to affect everyday life on the island.
He also accused the United States of worsening Cuba's energy crisis through sanctions, including an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in January 2026 targeting countries and companies that supply fuel to Cuba.
"The economic and social implications of that collective punishment are humanly unbearable," Diaz-Canel said.
The Cuban leader also rejected what he described as attempts to portray Cuba as a threat to US national security, calling it a pretext for possible military aggression.
He further dismissed a recent US State Department report describing Cuba as the "capital of 21st-century communism", calling it a "propaganda pamphlet", while reaffirming his government's willingness to pursue dialogue based on mutual respect.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
