Miguel Díaz-Canel accused the United States government this Friday of attempting to deprive Cuba of its fuel supply, labeling the actions as "acts of imperialist malice and wickedness."
During an Extraordinary Plenary Session of the Communist Party's Provincial Committee in Havana, he directly blamed Donald Trump for enforcing an energy blockade aimed at "completely strangling" the island's resources.
This refers to an executive order signed by Trump earlier this week, designed to cut off Cuba's oil supply by imposing tariffs on countries that send fuel to the island.
"The U.S. government's tactics involve continuing economic pressure—evident from Trump's recent announcement on Thursday about blocking petroleum supplies through tariffs—and also military aggression," Díaz-Canel stated.
The Cuban leader remarked that these new sanctions are intended to prevent Cuba from obtaining the vital fuel it needs to maintain its economy and daily life.
"Trump has had to acknowledge that there’s nothing left to deprive the Cuban people of, and now they want to deny us fuel, something crucial for any country's economic growth and daily functioning," he added.
"We must witness the malice and wickedness with which this policy is being executed," he said, while accusing President Trump and his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, of pushing a strategy of "total pressure and economic blackmail."
Regarding the fuel blockade, Díaz-Canel concluded, "Our premise will remain to prepare ourselves to progress even when aggression and restrictions become more severe. Surrender will never be an option."
Díaz-Canel's comments come amid worsening bilateral relations following a U.S. military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores.
The Cuban regime, a key ally of Caracas, has accused Washington of planning a similar offensive against Cuba.
Díaz-Canel reiterated that the communist regime will not abandon its principles. "We are a nation of peace, but any dialogue with the United States must be based on respect and equality, without pressure or conditions," he concluded.
Impact and Implications of the U.S. Oil Blockade on Cuba
What are the recent actions taken by the U.S. against Cuba?
The U.S. has implemented a strategy involving tariffs on countries that send oil to Cuba, effectively trying to cut off the island’s fuel supply.
How does Díaz-Canel view the U.S. oil blockade?
Díaz-Canel sees the blockade as a malicious and wicked attempt by the U.S. to completely suffocate Cuba economically and disrupt its daily life.
What is Cuba's stance on engaging in dialogue with the U.S.?
Cuba insists that any dialogue with the U.S. must be conducted under conditions of mutual respect and equality, without external pressure or conditions.