U.S. embargo (blockade) of Cuba

Cuba’s Combatant March of December 20

On December 20, Cuba’s Combatant March of more than 500,000 Cubans, representing the people of the entire nation, flooded the Malecón in Havana [in front of the U.S. Embassy]. . . to send a message across the ocean to the United States government to protest against the blockade and to ensure that Cuba no longer remains on the list of alleged state sponsors of terrorism.[1]

Diaz-Canel, the President of Cuba and the leader of its Communist Party, delivered the following lengthy speech at the end of the march:

“The current US administration, which today has exactly one month left in the White House, has done nothing to move away from the line of reinforced blockade and economic suffocation of Cuba that was left as a legacy by the Republican administration that returns to the Oval Office in January.”
“By implementing the 243 additional measures and keeping Cuba on the list of countries sponsoring terrorism, Biden has cruelly and disciplinedly complied with the policy that Trump approved during his term in office.”
“In recent weeks and days, there have been numerous statements by personalities from the United States and other parts of the world demanding that Biden use his power to at least remove from that spurious list the name of a nation that should never have been on it.”
“To point to Cuba as a state that supposedly sponsors terrorism is at the very least false and immoral, no matter where the accusation comes from, but it is doubly so when the accusation comes from US territory, where paramilitary groups are currently training to organize, promote and finance terrorist actions against social and economic structures in Cuba.”
“They are based in South Florida and do not hide away to train. They do it publicly, in plain sight and with the protection of local authorities, even violating their own laws and international treaties.”
“This is how they have acted for many years, sheltering in their territory confessed terrorists from this continent, such as Luis Posada Carriles and Orlando Bosch, masterminds of the abominable crime in Barbados who, however, died peacefully in the United States without ever paying for their crimes.”
“Knowing such antecedents, no American ruler can classify Cuba as a terrorist state.”
“The current government of that country knows this well. Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged this last May when he told the media that there was no justification for Cuba to remain on that list.”
“They acknowledge this but do not act, because US policy towards Cuba was hijacked more than six decades ago by a mafia stronghold of the Batista regime, based in South Florida, and against which they have shown weakness when it comes to acting coherently towards our country.”
“Cuba’s continued presence on that list and the intensification of the blockade policy are ruthless actions towards the Cuban people that must cease now!”
“When our international trade is persecuted and financial transactions are prevented, the Cuban people are being denied food, medicine, fuel, goods, supplies and merchandise essential to their survival.”
“When obstacles are placed in the way of our exports or when relations with our companies are persecuted and penalized, the country is being deprived of the currency that is essential for our development and for financing our project of social justice.”
“When onlineservices are prevented or academic and scientific exchanges are restricted, a blow is dealt to a nation that seeks to develop and move forward with its own talent and efforts, in the midst of an increasingly interconnected world.”
“When a people are denied medical oxygen in the midst of a pandemic, and even other countries or foreign companies that can do so are intimidated, this is criminal action.”
“This is the day-to-day life in which Cuba, its people and its government struggle to make their way.”
“The United States’ attempt to undermine the dignity of this people by means of the club has been destroyed today with this rally and combat march, which demonstrates how high the honor of our country still is!”
“Since we launched the call for this march, the prophets of anti-Cuban hatred have been hysterically shouting that it would be a failure, calling for a boycott and lying about their motivations.”
“How little they know about the Cuban people! How much they still underestimate our patriotic and revolutionary convictions!”
“Other spokesmen for the US government and the anti-Cuban mafia in South Florida insisted on poisoning the networks with the false idea that this was an anti-American march.”
“We do not profess the slightest feeling of hatred or animosity towards the American people. Towards the noble citizens of that country we have all our respect, and our hand is always extended to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood between the two peoples.”
“It is the same hand that we have extended to all governments of the United States, from the triumph of the Revolution until today, always based on a serious, respectful relationship on equal terms.”
“But if the United States persists in its efforts to undermine our sovereignty, our independence, our socialism, it will only encounter rebellion and intransigence!.”
“Every administration that has tried has outlived the Cuban Revolution, and will continue to do so.”
“This will be a march, yes, a very anti-imperialist one! Against American imperialism and its attempt to impose itself in Cuba by force or seduction, we will march now and always!”
“We are marching now to tell the United States Government: Let the Cuban people live in peace!”
“Down with interference! (Shouts of ‘Down!”)

“Down with the blockade!”(Shouts of “Down!”)

“Down with unilateral coercive measures against Cuba!” (Shouts of ‘Down!”)

“Down with Cuba’s continued presence on the list of state sponsors of terrorism!.”” (Shouts of: “Down!”)

“Down with the genocide against the Cuban people!“ (Shouts of: “Down!’)

“Socialism or Death!”

“Homeland or Death!”

“We will win!”(Exclamations of: “We will win!”)

Reactions

Although this blogger wants as soon as possible to see the end of the U.S. Cuba embargo (blockade) and designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, this march was not a reason for that opinion.

[1] ‘Allow a counter-march. If they overtake us there, their strength will have no objections,’ Diario de Cuba (December 21, 2024); On the march to victory, and with the foot in the stirrup, Granma (Dec. 21, 2024); Against the attempt to impose itself in Cuba by force or seduction, we will march now and forever! Granma (Dec. 20, 2024); A march that was, yes, very anti-imperialist!, Granma (Dec. 20, 2024).

Diario de Cuba’s Editorial on Its 15th Anniversary

On December 4 , Diario de Cuba, a daily Internet Cuban diary (in Spanish and English) published in Madrid, Spain, celebrated its 15th anniversary with the following editorial.[1]

“Exactly 15 years ago, the first news and articles from this newspaper appeared on the screens of some readers. Over the course of this decade and a half, changes have taken place in Cuba, but not those necessary for the country’s democratization.”

“Fidel Castro died—which for many seemed not only unimaginable, but impossible—and something else happened that had seemed impossible: the people took to the streets to protest their living conditions. The regime in Havana opened an embassy in Washington, Washington opened an embassy in Havana, and the rapprochement between the two countries, arranged by President Obama, was ultimately sabotaged by the Cuban regime.”

“With Miguel Díaz-Canel chosen by Raúl Castro, the first revolutionary leader who did not participate in the armed struggle rose to the presidency of the country and the secretariat of its sole party. Almost the country’s entire productive economy passed into the hands of the military conglomerate GAESA , which has set about building hotels while ignoring the downturn in tourism and ruling out investments much needed for the Cuban population.”

“The country became even more indebted and, in a vicious circle, persisted in its tradition of shirking its financial obligations. The authorities implemented the most ill-advised monetary policies possible, so inflation runs rampant in Cuba. Medical professionals and technicians have been, and continue to be, exploited by means of contracts lucrative for the regime but exploitive for them.”

“In response to the popular protests, the regime ratcheted up its repression against dissidents, activists and independent journalists, as the Justice system was turned into an ever stronger mechanism of repression , and the number of political prisoners grew. Censorship of thought and the arts intensified, and those young artists who protested ended up in prison or having to go into exile.”

“The migratory wave in the history of the country began, and the emigration of the youngest Cubans, along with low birth rates, has contributed to a largest acute aging of the population . Every day it is more and more difficult to have children in Cuba. Elderly Cubans are more vulnerable than ever. The regime used to have a “monopoly” on violence, but now cities and towns are no longer safe. Public insecurity is on the rise, gangs of young people are forming, and VAW is claiming more and more victims.”

“Each new state measure manages to render agriculture and livestock even more unproductive. Cuba, once the world’s largest exporter of sugar, has been fallen apart, with the country now importing sugar for several years. The only plant that grows in Cuba is marabou, and farmers determined to make the land produce are hampered by new restrictions. Meanwhile, no less onerous burdens weigh on entrepreneurs, who have been allowed, reluctantly, to start MSMEs.”

“Health and education, which for decades were the regime’s showpieces, have collapsed, their decline evident in the unhealthy state of hospital facilities and students’ poor results. Sports, another point of pride for socialism, are suffering a similar fate. Not even baseball is spared. Just as Cuba ceased to be a sugar powerhouse, it has now ceased to be a baseball power too.”

“In the last 15 years the regime has been dismantling the welfare system with which it had mitigated social inequalities, to the point that it no longer addresses the fate of the most disadvantaged . Today we can talk about the end of the grocery store book and rationing card. With blackout after blackout, the island has been sunk in darkness, and the national electrical system can no longer hold up. The last hurricanes to hit the island have highlighted the ineffectiveness of its on-effective civil defense system.”

“Old, dilapidated buildings continue, inexorably, to collapse, and the construction of new homes is an unresolved problem in every government plan. Vagrants, homeless people, and children who work, or beg, are becoming more common on Cuban streets. Meanwhile, his heirs of the regime’s elite boast on social media about what their parents have stolen, and continue to steal.”

“The Cuban regime cultivates alliances with nations like Russia, China, Iran and North Korea, and continues to meddle in Venezuela’s politics. It no longer operates based on any ideology, but rather on the exercise of brute force, and continues to mutate towards a dictatorship shamelessly open to benefiting a fortunate few.”

“Over the course of this last decade and a half, DIARIO DE CUBA has been there, studying and covering the scenarios briefly summarized above. In celebration of its birthday, last October the “For the Cuba of Tomorrow” DDC Forum was held in Madrid. Through it, and its day-to-day work, DDC demonstrates its commitment to the Cuba of the future.”

“On this anniversary, all that remains is to thank all our contributors and readers, and to renew this publication’s commitment to Cuba and to Cuban democracy.”

Reactions

As a U.S. citizen with some connections with Cuba, including three visits to the island at the start of this century, conversations with Cubans who have visited the U.S. and carefully following the published news about Cuba, especially those in Diario de Cuba, and writing blog posts about same,[2] I concur in most of this editorial’s observations.

However, although agreeing that U.S. President Obama had taken steps for “rapprochement between the two countries,” I think it is overstatement to claim that this effort was “ultimately sabotaged by the Cuban regime.” Obama’s successor (President Donald Trump) reversed some of those steps and the whole psychology of improving the relationship and even President Biden has not returned to the Obama effort.[3]

Recently a group of 15 U.S. Congress Representatives wrote a letter to President Biden urgently requesting “immediate action to stabilize Cuba’s energy infrastructure and provide critical humanitarian assistance. The Cuban people are currently facing widespread blackouts and an escalating energy crisis, exacerbated by the impact of Hurricane Rafael. The situation is not only causing immense suffering for the Cuban people but also poses serious risks to U.S. national security interests. If left unaddressed, the crisis will almost certainly fuel increased migration, strain U.S. border management systems, and fully destabilize the already-strained Caribbean region.”[4]

Therefore, these Congressmen “strongly” recommended “removing Cuba from the State Sponsors of Terrorism (SSOT) list” and suspending “sanctions that hinder the flow of humanitarian assistance, including restoring the EAR license exception to allow donations to Cuban health and humanitarian relief entities.” This blogger endorsed those recommendations plus asking President Biden to “eliminate the U.S. embargo of Cuba. . . .“

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[1] Editorial: DIARIO DE CUBA Turns 15, Diario de Cuba (Dec. 4, 2024)..

[2] See List of Posts to dwkcommentaries—Topical: CUBA [as of 5/4/20}.The labor of manually preparing updates to this list has discouraged the blogger from creating similar subsequent lists.

[3] See the posts listed in these sections (U.S. (Obama) & Cuba Relations (Normalization), 2014; U.S. (Obama) & Cuba Relations (Normalization), 2015); U.S. (Obama) & Cuba Relations (Normalization), 2016);and U.S. (Obama) & Cuba Relations (Normalization), 2017; U.S. (Trump) & Cuba Relations, 2016-17) of List of Posts to dwkcommentaries– Topical: CUBA [as of 5/4/20}.

[4] U.S. Congressmen Ask President Biden To Provide Sanctions Relief and Other Aid to Cuba, dwkcommentaries.com (Nov. 20, 2024).

Cuba’s Unstoppable Spiral of Misery

Rafaela Cruz, a journalist for Diario de Cuba who lives in Havana, offers the following dire analysis of Cuba’s current circumstances. [1] Here is what she says.

“This year we’ve received only 48% of the fuel that was planned,” and “of the 43 million planned for the purchase of raw materials, spare parts, bread production, maintenance, and the repair of the boilers at the dairy factory , only seven million, 9% of the total slated, have been issued.”

“Food Industry Minister Alberto López recently acknowledged that “last year, out of 22 selected productions, there was a decrease in 20, and none of the goals set have been achieved this year.” However, what the minister is really recognizing is the bleak tomorrow that awaits a country not only incapable of improving, but one unable to even maintain its existing capital, which is what its current and future standard of living depends on.”

“Ministries, companies and other state conglomerates are unable to keep means of production (many stolen in 1959) in sound condition, so they are becoming ever less efficient and more unproductive, prone to more frequent and prolonged breakdowns, such that Cuba’s machinery’s productivity is less and less productive than what its manufacturers had projected, all while growing progressively more expensive, which is why Cuba is no longer competitive in anything but producing tobacco and fermenting rum… and the latter thanks to a French company.”

“With old and damaged machinery, industrial exploitation ratios become negative. Production in Cuba would yield losses instead of profits if the Government were not offsetting its capital costs by skimping on workers’ remuneration. Socialism always starts out with the state subsidizing the people, but it always ends with the people subsidizing the government.”

“How is the rest of the economy destined to fare when a high-priority agency like the Food Industry receives less than half of the fuel scheduled, and only seven of the 43 million that the plan estimated as necessary for its needs?”

“Every ‘planned’ economy tends to fail in its own planning, because the very act of ‘planning’ by centralized bodies prevents the plasticity essential for any ecosystem to realize its potential.”

“Paradoxically, planning, far from organizing, disorganizes the allocation of resources that, in a decentralized manner, a free market coordinates and allocates much more effectively, whenever prices are not interfered with.”

“The result of socialist planning (in capitalism there is planning, but it is decentralized) is that next year Cuba will have less of everything necessary to produce, so it will have even less revenue, so, in turn, it will be able to afford fewer imports. It is a spiral in which each productive cycle is more inefficient and less profitable than the previous one; a downward spiral until total collapse, and we are almost there.”

“Cubana de Aviación, Ferrocarriles de Cuba (Railways), Antilana de Acero (Steel), the sugar industry, and the enormous Flota Cubana de Pesca (Fishing Fleet) are just some examples of the many industries that have already gone belly up. Electricity generation, although going down the same path, cannot be left to die because the country would shut down and their game would be up. It is not known how long they will be able to weather this decline. Now they want to avert collapse using solar panels… which, after being installed, are bound to be breaking down in six months, because socialism itself is corrosive.”

“Without access to international loans, given its criminal record of defaults and its ongoing standoff with the United States, Castroism sustains itself by borrowing internally; first, through monetary devaluation (inflation), lowering workers’ real wages and spreading misery and dependence on remittances to survive; and, second, by not covering the costs of maintaining physical capital (machinery, buildings, roads, etc.) thus freeing up short-term resources for consumption that should have been earmarked for investment (maintenance, spare parts, new technology), a suicidal stopgap decision spawning a progressive reduction in productive capacity.”

“Even Tourism is suffering from the leprosy of decapitalization. It is more ‘eye-catching’ and efficient in the short term – both from a GDP and money laundering perspective – to open new hotels than to pay for the proper maintenance of old ones. Meanwhile, complaints from tourists about the poor state of Cuba’s hotel infrastructure, even at ones that are practically new, abound on social media.”

“To reverse this spiral of misery, Castroism would have to adopt a truly liberal economic policy, or find a new USSR or Venezuela to ‘adopt’ it. As none of these possibilities seem feasible, socialism in Cuba will continue, from victory to victory, until its final defeat, which will come in the form of economic collapse.”

“This collapse will probably be accompanied by a struggle between those in the Communist Party of Cuba, who are only relevant as long as this totalitarian system of confrontation with the United States lasts, and the military, which has money and could benefit from a corrupt form of capitalism, like Russia’s. The thread is pulled tight… time will tell where it breaks.”

This Blogger’s Comments

As this blogger already stated, “Regardless of your opinion on the Trading with the Enemy Act or on the initial or subsequent U.S. impositions of the embargo, it is utterly stupid now for the U.S. to extend it another year for at least the following reasons:

“The Cuban economy now is in catastrophic condition and is not posing any threat by itself to the U.S.
Ceasing the U.S. embargo now would provide some desperately needed economic and political relief to Cuba.
Cuba’s current condition has encouraged it to expand relations with the Soviet Union and China, which are threats to the U.S. in many ways, and ending the embargo now would be one way to counter the threats posed by these two powers and possibly lead to weakening, if not ultimately eliminating, Cuba’s relationships with those powers.
Given that the U.N. General Assembly now for many years overwhelmingly has approved resolutions condemning the embargo, ending the embargo now would gain support for the U.S. in the U.N.”[2]

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[1] Cruz, Cuba’s unstoppable spiral of misery, Diario de Cuba (Dec. 2, 2024).

[2] Another Granma Article Against the U.S. Embargo (Blockade), dwkcommentaries.com (Sept. 26, 2024).

DDC Forum: For the Cuba of Tomorrow

The Latin American Conference on Investigative Journalism (COLPIN) is holding its 2024 sessions in Madrid, Spain, October 23-26, with participants from more than 15 countries.

A major event at this Conference on October 24 and 25 was the production of the “DDC Forum: For the Cuba of Tomorrow” organized by Diaria de Cuba (DDC), the Cuban daily Internet diary about Cuba (in Spanish and English).[1] Here is a list of 20 of the Forum’s programs:[2]

“We are experiencing a national crisis that affects all families”
“The recovery of historical memory and the status of citizen in Cuba is essential”
“Cuban citizens want a change of system”
“Creating spaces for dialogue is one of the fundamental roles of civil society”
“I hope Cuba will be free soon, the current situation is decisive”
“Cuba, democratic transition and international panorama”
“It is the political system model that is hindering Cuba’s development and the beginning of its recovery”
“Cuban society is democratizing itself in a fast, open and plural way”
“The situation in Cuba is unsustainable, we are getting closer to change”
“Changes in Cuba depend on our ability to articulate”
“Is the current crisis in Cuba an opportunity?”
“Cuba needs to reconcile with itself and its diaspora”
“The crisis taking place today in Cuba is induced and irreversible”
“Cuba: What moves or paralyzes citizens today?”
“Power in Cuba is undergoing mutations that deepen its most negative features”
“If we do not analyze today’s problems, we will not be able to think of solutions for the Cuba of tomorrow”
“The system’s narrative is exhausted and it is imperative to approach the formation of a possible Cuba”
Trying to negotiate a transition with Miguel Diaz-Canel today would be a farce”
“Achieving a sustainable energy matrix depends on a progressive economy”
“With GAESA there is no country”

Reactions

These programs deserve careful study by everyone who is interested in the future of Cuba as it struggles with its many problems, including its current electrical crisis. These programs also indirectly and strongly support the United States ending its embargo (blockade) of the island and its designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism and returning to the Obama Administration’s many decisions to normalize U.S. relations with Cuba.[3]

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[1] COLPIN, the great event of investigative journalism in Latin America, will be held in Madrid, Diario de Cuba (Sept. 25, 2024); Rosas, DDC in forum: ‘For the Cuba of tomorrow,”’ Diaria de Cuba (Sept. 25, 2024);

[2] [Details on 20 of DDC Forum’s Programs], Diario de Cuba (10/25/24). [Actual details on these programs will be discussed in future posts as they are revealed on Diario de Cuba.]

[3] See list of posts to dwkcommentaries in U.S. (Obama) & Cuba (Normalization), 2014; U.S. (Obama) & Cuba (Normalization ), 2015; U.S. (Obama) & Cuba (Normalization), 2016; U.S. (Obama) & Cuba (Normalization), 2017 in List of Posts to dwkcommentaries—Topical: Cuba [as of 5/4/20].

Another Granma Article Against the U.S. Embargo (Blockade)

Granma, the official newspaper for Cuba’s Communist Party, already has published an editorial against the U.S. recent extension of its embargo (blockade) against Cuba.[1] Here is the text of another Granma article voicing similar views.[2]

“[It} is not news that the U.S. Government has extended, for one more year, the validity of the law that establishes the basis of the economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba. It would be news if it did not, because that is already on the agenda of the president-elect, regardless of the winning party. There is only one political base against the largest of the Antilles: the imperial one.”

“Last week, Joe Biden played the same role as his predecessors, in a ridiculous and archaic scene, in the middle of the 21st century, by keeping alive the Trading with the Enemy Act, passed by the Federal Congress on October 6, 1917. This gives the head of the White House the power to restrict trade with countries ‘hostile’ to the United States, and the possibility of applying economic sanctions in time of war or any other period of national emergency, and prohibits trade with the enemy or allies of the enemy during armed conflicts.”

“It is under the protection of this legislative text, the oldest of its kind, that the regulations for the Control of Cuban Assets were put into practice in 1963, after the blockade against Cuba was imposed in 1962 by then President John F. Kennedy. He acted under the umbrella of that regulation.

The Trading with the Enemy Act is the cushion of that murderous policy against the people of Cuba, which aims at killing through hunger, unrest and chaos. This regulation is supposed to be applied when Washington considers a nation a national security problem, and so far it has not issued any document against Cuba in this regard, or when there is a war conflict, which does not exist, because the bombs are dropped far away, in the Middle East, but never near its walls.”

“However, the Caribbean island is the only country to which the U.S. government applies the old legislation. Previously, China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Vietnam were also subject to it.”

“That text is part of the legal framework of the blockade, which includes others such as the Foreign Assistance Act (1961), the Export Administration Act (1979), the Torricelli Act (1992), the Helms-Burton Act (1996) and the Export Administration Regulations (1979).”

“According to the report presented by the Cuban Foreign Ministry, between March 1, 2023 and February 29, 2024, such a monstrosity caused Cuba damages and material losses estimated in the order of 5,056.8 million dollars, which represents an approximate loss of more than 575,683 dollars for each hour of the blockade.”

“The governments of the United States have filled themselves with laws against a small country that has made it undergo the worldwide embarrassment of not surrendering to its feet. This was stated on the social network X, by the member of the Political Bureau and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, who expressed that, ‘despite the serious damage caused, they continue to fail in the objective of destroying the Revolution.’”

Comment

Regardless of your opinion on the Trading with the Enemy Act or on the initial or subsequent U.S. impositions of the embargo, it is utterly stupid now for the U.S. to extend it another year for at least the following reasons:

The Cuban economy now is in catastrophic condition and is not posing any threat by itself to the U.S.
Ceasing the U.S. embargo now would provide some desperately needed economic and political relief to Cuba.
Cuba’s current condition has encouraged it to expand relations with the Soviet Union and China, which are threats to the U.S. in many ways, and ending the embargo now would be one way to counter the threats posed by these two powers and possibly lead to weakening, if not ultimately eliminating, Cuba’s relationships with those powers.
Given that the U.N. General Assembly now for many years overwhelmingly has approved resolutions condemning the embargo, ending the embargo now would gain support for the U.S. in the U.N.

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[1] U.S. Extends Cuba Embargo for Another Year, dwkcommentaries.com (Sept. 19, 2024);Comment: Granma Editorial: The blockade is a global embarrassment for the United States (Sept. 23, 2024).

[2] The blockade is a worldwide embarrassment for the United States, Granma (Sep.23, 3034).

U.S. Extends Statute of Limitations for Crime of Violations of U.S. Embargo of Cuba

On July 22, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department issued “Guidance on Extension of Statute of Limitations “ by the 21^st Century Peace through Strength Act, which was signed into law by President Biden on April 24, 2024. [1]

Section 3111 of that Act extended from five years to 10 years the stature of limitations for civil and criminal violations of the International Emergency Powers Act or the Trading with the Enemy Act. The latter statute codifies the operation of the U.S. embargo of Cuba.

Reactions

In this blogger’s opinion, this statutory change is an unfortunate development in light of this blog’s previous criticism and opposition to the embargo.[2]

Moreover, Cuba currently is experiencing horrendous economic problems unrelated to the embargo, thereby strengthening the need for the U.S. to abolish the embargo and adopt other measures to help alleviate these Cuban economic problems and the suffering of the Cuban people.[3]

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[1] US extends period for which violations of embargo on Havana will be crimes, Diario de Cuba (Aug. 5, 2024); U.S. Department of the Treasury (Office of Foreign Assets Control), Enforcement Release (Guidance on Extension of Statute of Limitations (July 22, 2024).

[2] E.g., posts listed in “U.S. Embargo of Cuba” section of List of Posts to dwkcommentaries—Topical: CUBA [as of 5/4/20]; List of Posts to dwkcommentaries—Topical: Cuba: 5/19.20-7.19.24.

[3] E.g., the following posts to dwkcommentaries.com: U.N. Experts Urge the U.S. to Stop Actions Adverse to Cuba (July 31, 2024) Another Indictment of the Cuban Economy (July 25, 2024); Cuban Expert: Cuba Progressively Closer to Implosion (July 23, 2024); Cuban Expert: Cuban Human rights Getting Worse (July 22, 2024); More Details Cuba’s Declining Population (July 20, 2024); Cuban Government Official Admits That Its Inefficient Political-Economic Model Is Responsible for Cuba’s Economic Problems (July 20, 2024); Nearly 90% of Cuba’s Population Affected by Extreme Poverty (July 17.2024); Cuba’s Poor Economic Outlook for 2024 (July 16, 2024).

U.N. Experts Urge the U.S. to Stop Actions Adverse to Cuba

U.N. experts called on the U.S. to remove Cuba from its list of state sponsors of terrorism and to end the U.S. embargo of the island. They also warned of the U.S. expansion of restrictions against Cuba that will add additional constraints on the island and impose adverse effects on its capacity to meet the needs of the Cuban people.[1]

“These additional trade restrictions expanded the list of prohibited items and involved the suspension of U.S. financial and technical assistance; active U.S. opposition to the granting of loans to (the Government of) Cuba by international financial institutions; and possible threats of interruption of assistance to other countries providing assistance to Cuba.”

Moreover, these restrictions “come on top of the challenges already faced by the Cuban people over the past three to four years and the disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters, and economic and financial developments that have affected global supply chains and commodity and energy prices.”

The experts are Alena Douhan, Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures; Cecilia M. Bailliet, Independent Expert on human rights and international solidarity; and George Katrougalos,Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order.

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[1] Three UN experts call on the US to remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, Diario de Cuba (July 31, 2024); UN: Cuba is not a sponsor of terrorists, Granma (July 30, 2024)

Another Perspective on the Failure of the Cuban Economy

Emilio Morales, a Cuban-American and President & CEO of Havana Consulting Group, a Miami-based consulting firm specializing in market intelligence and strategy for U.S. and non-U.S. persons doing business in Cuba, offers a blistering appraisal of the current status of the Cuban economy.[1]

He begins his article with the following statement: “The Cuban government’s announcement that it is in a state of war economy is a public recognition of the failure of the Cuban model. In reality, the country has been in a state of war economy for more than six decades; it is not something that suddenly emerged at the last minute. The war economy is the very essence of the system, it is its genetic basis, it is the matrix of control that dictator Fidel Castro implemented since the triumph of the revolution in 1959 and that has lasted from then until today. It was the most effective way to achieve citizen control. Very simple: it was necessary to eliminate all sources of wealth creation in the hands of citizens, take control of them in their entirety and find someone to blame for the economic debacle that would follow.”

“Today, the macabre plan executed by Fidel Castro since January 1, 1959 has had a great result: the Cuban economy is a disaster, its industries are in ruins, its banks are bankrupt , the state enterprise is totally decapitalized, foreign investment is scarce – in the last five years it has been practically zero -, more than 80% of the population lives in poverty, the country practically does not export because it does not produce. The productive forces are gagged by the system, by a legal system that does not allow free enterprise and limits the generation of wealth by citizens. Today the country depends on imports of products and raw materials, but does not have the financing to maintain them, because it has lost its lines of credit for not paying its external debt with creditors. This, added to the debacle of agricultural production has led to a deep shortage of products that has generated the worst inflationary crisis in the history of the country.”

“As a result of this debacle, a multi-systemic crisis has been unleashed in the country unprecedented in history, which has given rise to massive citizen protests never seen in more than 60 years of tropical communism , such as those that occurred on July 11, 2021 (11J) and which, given the current circumstances, can be repeated at any time, since the country has become a true social powder keg, which can explode under any circumstance. As part of this crisis, the largest wave of migration in the country’s history has been unleashed, which has resulted in the emigration of more than 850,000 Cubans to the United States alone by various means in the last three years. According to a recent study, 1.79 million people have left the country between 2022 and 2023.”

Morales ends the article with the following conclusions:

“Once again, the Cuban regime is entangled in its clumsy strategies. The announcement that they are going to a war economy —when they have always been one— has a clear objective: to blame the embargo for the ills that afflict the Cuban economyand to try to influence the strategists who dictate the Biden Administration’s policy towards Cuba to somehow loosen the sanctions currently in force and the embargo.”
The U.S. “embargo has little weight in the collapse of the Cuban economy,since in practice the country that supposedly blocks them is one of their main suppliers, not only of food products, but also of financial capital (remittances) that Cuba acquires abroad. For example, the United States is the main supplier of chicken to the Island. 95% of the remittances that arrive in Cuba come from the United States.”
“It is obvious that the collapse of the Cuban economy and the multi-systemic crisis that is ravaging the country is a purely internal problem. The inflationary crisis that is ravaging the country, plus the rest of the crises that are occurring in the internal economy: the collapse of the transportation system, the collapse of the energy matrix, the collapse of the water supply, the collapse of the health system, the lack of food and medicine, the housing problems, the low agricultural production, the shortage of food products and other types of products, are the sole and exclusive responsibility of the Cuban regime. Its policy of coercion of citizens, based on terror, by limiting their rights to political and economic freedom, freedom of association, expression and movement.”
“The only way to stop the inflationary explosion and all the ills that plague the country’s economy is to get out of this parasitic and hegemonic system under which the Castro family has been exploiting Cubansand stealing the country’s wealth for 65 years.”

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[1] Morales, ‘War economy’: the Cuban regime’s psychological torture mechanism, Diario de Cuba (July 12, 2024).

Russian Military Ships’ Recent Visit to Cuba

On June 12^th four Russian warships, including a nuclear-powered submarine and a frigate capable of carrying hypersonic missiles, arrived in Cuba. Their arrival and visit were monitored by U.S. and Canadian ships.[1]

Just hours later on June 12th a U.S. Navy nuclear-powered submarine (the USS Helena) stopped in the waters near the U.S. Guantanamo Naval Base at the eastern end of Cuba, and other U.S. and Canadian military vessels were in the island’s vicinity.[2]

According to the Official statement of Cuba’s Ministry of Revolutionary Armed Forces, the visit of the four Russian naval vessels was “part of the historic friendly relations between Cuba and the Russian Federation, [and] strictly adheres to the international conventions to which the State of Cuba is a party. Since none of these ships carry nuclear weapons, their stopover in our country represents no threat to the region.”[3]

While the Russian vessels were docked in Havana, they were open for visits to Cuban visitors, including its President, Miguel Diaz-Canel. The Russian vessels left Havana on June 18^th, and its frigate went north along the U.S. eastern coastline.

On June 18^th Alexander Moiseev, the commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy, said that “the proximity of the detachment of ships of the [Russian] Northern Fleet to the borders of our current opponent [the U.S.] irritates someone. For us this is very important, and we trusted the actions of our forces. In addition, it shows support for the Republic of Cuba, which is close to us. The campaign had an effect,” and the Kremlin “will continue the practice of sailing ships to distant maritime zones.” [4]

On the same date, June 18^th, the Pentagon’s Press Secretary, Major General Pat Ryder, said, “we obviously closely monitored [the Russian naval activity near Cuba and now near the U.S.. but we], don’t see any threat to the homeland and, and these types of exercises are not new. We’ve seen them take place . . . over the years.”

U.S. Congressional Hearing[5]

On June 12, the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee held a hearing on “Great Power Competition in the Western Hemisphere” with the following witnesses: Brian Nichols, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs; Todd Robinson, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Department of State; and Mr. Michael Camilleri, Acting Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean, U.S. Agency for International Development.

Chairman McCaul’s Opening Statement

The Committee’s Chair, Representative Michael McCaul (Rep., Tex.), opened the hearing with an Opening Statement, which stated, in part, the following:

“Under the Biden administration, China, Russia, and Iran have bolstered their presence in the region. They have cornered critical mineral markets, expanded their military footprint, and deepened their intelligence capabilities. All aided and abetted by many authoritarian regimes in the Americas. As we speak, four Russian warships, including a nuclear-powered submarine, and a frigate carrying hypersonic missiles are set to arrive in Cuba.”
“Congress has given the President tools to combat and compete with the great powers. It has authorized the [U.S. International Development Finance Corporation], appropriated bilateral economic assistance, and provided funding through the CHIPS Act – which I authored and passed into law – to secure our supply chains. It has mandated corruption sanctions against foreign officials and their family members.”
“And yet, the Biden administration has not effectively used all the tools Congress has provided. The result is a hemisphere more and more aligned with our adversaries.”
“Our adversaries cannot be separated. They are all connected and they are all working together. We can’t win the game if we are not on the field competing.
“And in the great power competition in our hemisphere, I believe, that America is falling behind.”

In his subsequent questioning of the three witnesses, McCaul said, “ I think we need a new doctrine for our hemisphere. One that protects our interests, combats our enemies, and promotes shared prosperity between us and our allies.”

Assistant Secretary Nichols’ Testimony

Assistant Secretary Nichols told the Committee that the U.S. in discussions with Cuban officials has raised U.S. concerns about Cuba’s allowing or promoting “the participation of Cuban mercenaries as part of Russian aggression against Ukraine.” This is just one of many actions that demonstrates the importance of the Cuba-Russia military relationship, including the arrival this week of four Russian vessels in Cuban waters, and their monitoring by U.S. and Canadian warships.[6]

Nichols also mentioned the recent U.S. efforts to encourage the growing importance of private business enterprises in Cuba, which the U.S. believes are vital to counteract the malign influence on Cuba of Russia and China.

Conclusion

Unfortunately the U.S. continued embargo of Cuba and identifying the island as a state sponsor of terrorism have contributed to a tense relationship between the two countries and to Cuba’s need for support from other strong countries like Russia. As has been argued in other posts to this blog, the U.S. should cease these policies that are harmful to Cuba and pursue a policy of reconciliation.

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[1] E.g., Russian ships arrive in Cuba as Cold War allies strengthen their ties, CNN.com (June 12, 2024).

[2] The US sends an attack submarine to the Guantanamo Naval Base, Diario de Cuba (June 13, 2024).

[3] The regime regarding the US nuclear submarine: ‘We were informed, but we do not like its presence, Diario de Cuba (June 15, 2024).

[4 ] What Is the Russian war flotilla that was in Cuba doing off the coast of Florida, Diario de Cuba? (June 19, 2024); The Russian war flotilla leaves Cuba, while US ships and tracking planes are activated, Diario de Cuba (June 17, 2024)

[5] House Foreign Affairs Comm., Committee Hearing Notice (June 5, 2024); House Foreign Affairs Comm., Hearing Webcast, Great Power Competition in the Western Hemisphere (June 12, 2024)

[6] Granma, the official newspaper of the island’s communist Party, said the arrival of these Russian vessels was “a sign of the two countries’ “relations of friendship and collaboration.” (In Cuba, naval detachment of the Russian Federation, Granma (June 13, 2024) https://www.granma.cu/mundo/2024-06-13/en-cuba-destacamento-naval-de-la-federacion-de-rusia-13-06-2024-02-06-11

Tag: U.S. embargo (blockade) of Cuba

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