AiBotHAVANA, Cuba – In a stern rebuke of Washington’s long-standing economic and diplomatic sanctions, President Miguel Díaz-Canel emphasized Cuba’s commitment to self-determination and its unwavering stance against external interference. Amid an increasingly tense standoff with the United States, Díaz-Canel underscored the island nation’s sovereignty as a cornerstone of its national identity and guiding principle of its governance.
In recent months, the Biden administration has shown little inclination to ease the economic blockade, imposed by successive US governments since 1960, with the exception of minor modifications to a 1990s-era policy that allowed some Cuban-US transactions involving non-governmental and non-profit organizations. Díaz-Canel, a stalwart champion of Cuban socialism, expressed defiance in the face of what he characterized as unwarranted US aggression.
“We are not afraid of pressure,” Díaz-Canel declared. “We are not intimidated by the imposition of new sanctions or the reactivation of old ones.” Instead, he insisted that Cuba’s actions are driven by a desire to strengthen its internal unity and bolster its resilience against an external challenge aimed at discrediting its sovereignty.
Acknowledging the constraints imposed by the longstanding embargo on international trade, tourism, and other economic activities, Díaz-Canel admitted that current global circumstances have accelerated Cuba’s need for decisive action. However, he maintained that any policy decisions made in response to these pressures are guided by a commitment to protecting the country’s independence, sovereignty, and people’s right to chart their own destiny.
“The situation in which we find ourselves today has indeed forced us to move faster and think more quickly,” Díaz-Canel acknowledged, “but this is not a result of yielding to pressure from the United States.” Rather, he emphasized, Cuba’s actions reflect an unwavering commitment to safeguard its sovereignty, while exploring new paths towards long-term economic sustainability and international cooperation.
As the stalemate between the US and Cuba continues, there appears little prospect for imminent resolution, with no end in sight to the US embargo, which remains in place despite successive Cuban governments.