The latest controversy involving Johana Tablada de la Torre, a diplomat from Cuba's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and newly appointed ambassador, has once again heightened tensions between Havana and Washington. After acknowledging in an interview that Cuba can "purchase all the chicken it wants" from the United States, she faced severe criticism from the U.S. State Department, which labeled her a "puppet of the Cuban dictatorship."
In a post shared on the social media platform X, the State Department's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs asserted that "Cuban regime officials now openly admit what we have always known: there is no blockade." The statement directly targeted Tablada de la Torre, citing her as an example of the alleged contradiction within the Cuban government in acknowledging food purchases from the United States.
Tablada's Firm Response
Tablada de la Torre did not hold back in her response. On Facebook, she accused Washington of distorting her statements to fabricate a misleading narrative aimed at "justifying the economic war against Cuba." "Neither I, nor the President, nor any Cuban official has ever said the blockade does not exist. This official U.S. media publication lies once again in a very misleading and twisted manner," she declared.
The diplomat condemned what she described as a "media lynching" and emphasized that the U.S. government resorts to "distortion and outright lies" to undermine Cuban officials. She also shared the full interview she gave to the pro-government videopodcast Alma Plus, where she elaborated that although laws permit food purchases in the U.S. market, these transactions are subject to "onerous" conditions and regulations that complicate trade.
"Cuba can buy chicken from the United States, but under a prepayment scheme, with additional costs and financial restrictions that make such transactions much more complicated and expensive," she explained.
Economic Context and Disputes
This controversy arises amidst a severe shortage crisis affecting the Cuban population. Chicken, a primary import from the United States, is among the most scarce staple foods on the island. According to the U.S.-Cuba Economic and Trade Council, food and agricultural product exports to Cuba increased by 16.6% in the first half of 2025, reaching $243.3 million. In June alone, sales amounted to $38.4 million, a 10% rise compared to the same month in 2024, with 54% of these transactions involving chicken, a highly demanded product in the Cuban market.
These sales are conducted under the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 and the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992, which allow for direct cash sales of food and agricultural products to the island. While Havana maintains that the embargo remains a significant obstacle to its finances and foreign trade, Washington argues that the real barrier is the Cuban economic system, dominated by state and military enterprises that limit citizens' opportunities.
Political and Narrative Clashes
The dispute highlights a long-standing point of contention between the two governments: the interpretation of the impact of the U.S. embargo. For the Cuban regime, the sanctions policy is an "economic war" that hinders any chance of development. On the other hand, Washington contends that the embargo includes exceptions that demonstrate that the island's economic collapse is not due to sanctions, but rather the prevailing political model.
In her post, Tablada expressed gratitude for the solidarity from those who denounced what she called a "coordinated attack" against her. However, her words once again brought to the forefront the internal contradictions in the official discourse: while she admits that Cuba can purchase large volumes of food in the U.S. market, she continues to blame the embargo for the severe supply crisis affecting the country.
The media and diplomatic confrontation between Tablada and the State Department adds another chapter to the long-standing conflict between Havana and Washington, set against the backdrop of an increasingly deteriorating Cuban economy and a population still suffering from the scarcity of basic goods.
Understanding Tensions Between Cuba and the United States
What did Johana Tablada say about the U.S. embargo?
Johana Tablada stated that neither she nor any Cuban official has ever claimed the embargo does not exist. She accused the U.S. of distorting her words to justify economic sanctions against Cuba.
How does the U.S. government view the Cuban embargo?
The U.S. government argues that the embargo includes exceptions that show the causes of Cuba's economic issues lie in its state-controlled economic model, not in the sanctions themselves.