Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla launched a scathing attack on U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio this Thursday, accusing him of "lying for two consecutive days" about Cuba. Rodríguez condemned Washington's sanctions policy, describing it as a "collective punishment" inflicted upon the island's population.
"The U.S. Secretary of State has been lying about #Cuba for two days straight. It's an obsession he can't shake," Rodríguez expressed on his X account.
The Cuban diplomat argued that these remarks are intended to "justify a cruel and ruthless assault on the Cuban people, which lacks any political or moral justification."
This reaction occurred on the same day that Washington unveiled another set of sanctions targeting individuals and entities connected to the Cuban regime, including Fidel Ernesto Castro Calis, the grandson of Raúl Castro.
New Sanctions and Their Impact
The sanctions also targeted the Banco Exterior de Cuba and four state-owned entities associated with the energy and mining sectors: Comercial CUPET S.A., ABAPET, NICAROTEC, and CEXNI.
Rubio defended the new measures by accusing the ruling elite of enriching themselves while ordinary Cubans suffer under a severe crisis.
"The elites of the Cuban communist regime preside over a failed state where everyday Cubans go hungry while the Castro family and their cronies profit through sanction evasion and other illicit schemes," stated the Secretary of State.
Rubio emphasized that both he and President Donald Trump are "steadfast" in their commitment to ensuring "Cuba will be free."
Escalating Tensions
Rodríguez escalated his accusations against Washington, stating, "Collective punishment is a crime. It's about inflicting suffering on an entire population with coldly calculated measures to induce a humanitarian crisis. Enough abuse. End the blockade and allow Cuba to live in peace."
The exchange extends the public confrontation between the two officials that began on Wednesday. On that day, Rubio denied that the U.S. maintains a formal oil blockade against Cuba, attributing the prolonged power outages to the regime's management and accusing Cuban officials of profiting from Venezuelan oil sales.
In contrast, Rodríguez stated during an interview on the Cuba Analysis podcast that U.S. measures are hindering the arrival of fuel and goods to the island. He claimed that over 7,000 containers with food, medicine, and other products are stalled in regional ports due to pressure on shipping companies.
He also argued that increased fuel availability could alleviate power outages and criticized the 100 million dollar humanitarian aid announced by Rubio, claiming its impact within Cuba has been minimal so far.
Background of the Sanctions
The new sanctions are part of the U.S.'s toughened stance towards Havana during Trump's second term. Since January 2026, the United States has issued more than 240 designations related to Cuba.
Rubio summarized the strategy in August, describing the pressure on the Cuban regime: "Every time they create a new mechanism to try and escape the noose, we simply tighten it."
FAQs on U.S.-Cuba Relations and Sanctions
Why did Marco Rubio defend the new sanctions against Cuba?
Marco Rubio defended the new sanctions by accusing the Cuban ruling elite of enriching themselves while ordinary citizens suffer, asserting that the measures are necessary to challenge the regime's oppressive practices.
What entities are targeted by the recent U.S. sanctions on Cuba?
The latest sanctions target the Banco Exterior de Cuba and four state-owned entities linked to energy and mining: Comercial CUPET S.A., ABAPET, NICAROTEC, and CEXNI, as well as individuals connected to the regime like Fidel Ernesto Castro Calis.
What are the main accusations from Bruno Rodríguez against the U.S.?
Bruno Rodríguez accuses the U.S. of lying about Cuba, justifying a "cruel and ruthless" assault on the Cuban people, and causing humanitarian suffering through sanctions, which he labels as a crime of collective punishment.