Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla has accused the United States of attempting to damage Cuba's economy through new sanctions targeting government institutions and essential supplies.
Writing on his Telegram channel, Rodriguez Parrilla said the US Secretary of State is continuing to enforce restrictions against Cuban companies, preventing the Cuban government from providing basic services that are already in a critical state.
According to the foreign minister, the latest US measures specifically impede the transportation of shipping containers carrying food, medicine, and medical equipment to Havana.
Washington has now targeted the leadership and employees of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples, known as ICAP. Rodriguez Parrilla complained that the institution has spent several decades promoting ideals of international solidarity, friendship, justice, and peace.
Havana is the capital and political center of Cuba, a Caribbean island nation. ICAP functions as a public organization dedicated to foreign relations and cultural exchange, while Telegram is a messaging platform widely used by diplomats for public announcements.
Shift in US Foreign Policy Strategy
The new restrictions align with recent reports detailing Washington's policy direction toward the island. Economic sanctions are commercial penalties used by governments to restrict financial access and exert diplomatic pressure.
Bloomberg previously reported that the United States has decided for now against using military force against Cuba, pushing that option into the background. Bloomberg is an international news service headquartered in New York that reports on global economic and political developments.
Instead of military action, Washington expects to intensify economic pressure on the island. United States strategy aims to create a split within the Cuban government, thereby providing an opportunity for diplomatic negotiations.
However, before the decision to focus on economic pressure, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth stated that the White House was considering the use of force against Cuba. The Pentagon leads the United States Department of Defense, executing military decisions made by presidential leadership in Washington.
