Tag: U.S. embargo of Cuba

Cuba Planning March Challenging Biden To Cancel Hostile U.S. Policies

The Call for a Cuban Combatant March

On December 14 (the last day of the IX Plenary Session of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba) Cuban President Diaz-Canel delivered a speech in which he said that the Cuban people “expect changes and solutions to their problems, which cannot always come from the nation [of Cuba]. But at all levels, we must act with sensitivity to these problems, we must involve them increasingly in the response. Popular participation is simply indispensable.”[1]

Diaz-Canel then said there was the U.S. blockade that “has been intensified, there is an economic war, they despise us, they vulgarly, obscenely and hatefully poison us on social media. In response to this hostile policy, we call on the heroic Cuban people to march in combat on December 20. It will be a strong condemnation of the imperial blockade and the unjust inclusion of Cuba in the list of countries that supposedly sponsor terrorism.”

Therefore, he called for a “March of the Combatant People for next October 20.”

Granma Editorial Endorsing the Combatant March[2]

 Here is what that editorial said:

“Far from fulfilling his electoral promise regarding relations with Cuba, President Joseph Biden, in his four years in office, has kept in force and in application almost all of the draconian economic coerción mesures imposed by the Trump administration, and has approved others, such as the recent legislation that legalizes the shameless theft of the Havana Club brand in the US market.”

“The policy of maximum pressure applied, the cornerstone of which is the reinforcement of the blockade, has had markedly harmful effects on the quality of life of the Cuban people, their access to food, health services, medicines, decent housing and numerous essential goods, and has caused the migration of thousands of people, sometimes in extremely risky conditions.”

“It is the rigorous concretization of the imperialist action design towards Cuba, outlined in the well-known memorandum of the Assistant Undersecretary of State, Lester Mallory, 64 years ago, who defined that the only way to confront the Cuban Revolution “… is through the disenchantment and dissatisfaction that arise from economic malaise and material difficulties… all possible means must be quickly employed to weaken the economic life of Cuba… a line of action that, being the most skillful and discreetly as possible, achieve the greatest advances in depriving Cuba of money and supplies, in order to reduce its financial resources and real wages, provoke hunger, desperation and the overthrow of the Government.”

“Since then, the strategy has consisted not only of bringing hunger and misery to the Cuban people, but also and, above all, in trying to make it seem that the cause of such misfortunes is the “inefficient management” of the Cuban government, and not the so-called “sanctions” of Washington.”

“But the numbers are clear in showing who is holding back the necessary development of the Cuban nation. The blockade affects our people to the tune of more than 421 million dollars a month, more than 13.8 million dollars a day, and 575,683 dollars in damages for every hour of its application.”

“The blockade is the most comprehensive, complete and prolonged system of unilateral and extraterritorial coercive economic measures ever applied against any nation.”

“”No country, even with economies much more prosperous and robust than Cuba’s, could face such a ruthless, asymmetric and prolonged aggression, without a considerable cost to the standard of living of its population, its stability and social justice,” says the report presented by Cuba this year to the United Nations General Assembly, where the overwhelming majority of UN member countries condemned this policy of force and suffocation.”

“In addition to the considerable damage caused to the economy, finances and trade by this aberrant policy, there are the restrictive measures resulting from the decision to include Cuba, in a malicious manner, in the infamous arbitrary and illegitimate list of countries that supposedly sponsor terrorism. It was a perverse move by the Trump administration, a few days before leaving the White House.”

“This designation is cynical, because Cuba, far from sponsoring terrorism, has been and is the victim of recurring terrorist activities financed and organized from US territory, with the consent of the authorities of that country.”

“Cuba has a clear and firm position in the fight against terrorism in all its forms. It has served as a key intermediary in the peace talks between the Colombian government, the ELN and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), in the same spirit with which it called on the member states of CELAC a decade ago to declare the region a Zone of Peace, ‘based on respect for the principles and norms of International Law.’”

“It is a cruel act because it is designed to maximize the suffering of the Cuban people. The inclusion of our country on the list of nations that support terrorism not only makes international transactions difficult, has export obstacles and financial restrictions, or hinders assistance to the country with humanitarian aid, but also threatens or penalizes citizens of countries that enjoy the privilege of traveling to Cuba, which includes Cuban nationals. It also interferes with banking transactions of natural persons and new non-state economic actors. It prevents the contracting of online services and restricts academic and scientific exchanges.”

“In May 2024, the State Department removed Cuba from the list of states that “do not fully cooperate” with the United States in the fight against terrorism, further highlighting the nefarious and opportunistic nature of the 2021 designation.”

“In defending the rational change of attitude, Secretary of State Antony Blinken not only cited the current position of the Colombian government, but also highlighted Cuba’s police cooperation and the non-existence of terrorist elements on Cuban territory.”

“But this is not enough. Cuba continues to suffer as a result of its cynical, cruel and illegal exclusion from the international economy and finances, given its continued inclusion on the arbitrary list of alleged sponsors of terrorism.”

“President Biden can put an end to that lie and heed the call of dozens of governments, numerous former presidents and prime ministers, hundreds of members of parliament, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and other religious leaders, and thousands of organizations around the world and in the United States itself.”

“In the days remaining in his term, President Biden can remove Cuba from the List of State Sponsors of Terrorism; he has the authority to do so. If he wants to leave some decency as a legacy in the final days of his political life, he can take that symbolic step. There is still time to do so.”

“The Cuban people will continue to fight against unjust aggression, against the genocidal blockade, against manipulation and lies, against spurious and coercive lists, against the million-dollar funds to subvert internal order and feed disinformation operations, and will demand with all their might justice and peace for Cuba and for our world.”

“This is what will happen on December 20, when, in their name, the people of the capital will march in combat along the Havana seafront to express, in front of the United States Embassy, ​​their demand for an end to hostility, their condemnation of imperial ignominy, and their unyielding spirit of struggle and victory.”

“We will march with the profound conviction, instilled by Fidel, that there is no force in the world capable of crushing the power of truth and ideas.”

Reaction

As a U.S. citizen and resident, this blogger was involved in Minneapolis’ Westminster Presbyterian Church’s establishing a partnership with a Cuban Presbyterian Church in the city of Maranzas over 20 years ago, including making three mission trips to that church, and has maintained contact with fellow Westminster members so involved today and with visits of Cuban pastors to our church. As a result, this blogger has paid close attention to the ongoing bilateral relations and written many blog posts about same.

Although I do not subscribe to the negative comments about the U.S. in the current Cuban effort to promote the upcoming Combatant March, I do support the U.S. in the last days of the Biden Administration cancelling  its current designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism because I think it is not justified and because Cuba has been going through a horrible time, politically and economically, and needs all of the help it can get. I also would like the embargo to be cancelled, but that would take congressional action, which is not possible now.

Tomorrow we will see the actual march.

=============================

[1] With no solutions to the crisis that is overwhelming Cubans, Diaz-Canel calls on them to a ‘combatant march’, Diario de Cuba (Dec. 14, 2024).

[2] Editorial: A march against imperial ignominy, Granma (Dec. 16, 2024); Extreme pressure on Biden: the Cuban regime shows the purpose of the December 20 march, Diario de Cuba (Dec.17, 2024).

 

 

U.S. Blames Cuba for Failure of U.S.-Cuba Reconciliation

On December 16. 2024, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Brian Nichols made a statement about the U.S.-Cuba relationship to the editors of Marti Noticias, a Cuba organization founded in 1983 “to serve as a reliable and authoritative source of accurate, balanced and complete information for the Cuban people,” which is “a closed society where all media outlets continue to be controlled by the State, [while] Radio Martí and Martinoticias.com focus on essentially covering the Cuban issue with an alternative vision that breaks censorship.”[1]

Nichols said, ““The restoration of diplomatic relations under the Obama administration was an important step in trying to improve the lives of Cuban citizens and address challenges such as the lack of democracy on the island. However, the reforms we would have liked to see in Cuba did not occur.”

“Relations quickly cooled after Donald Trump came to power in his first term, mysterious health incidents involving US diplomats in Havana and then the brutal repression of peaceful protests by hundreds of thousands of Cubans demanding freedom.”

“In 2021 we saw a wave of repression that truly stunned the world, a huge setback for the well-being of the Cuban people and the international community. It was a missed opportunity by the Cuban regime,” Nichols added.

“Since mass protests in July 2021, the Cuban regime has imprisoned more than 1,000 political prisoners, many of them young people who took to the streets to peacefully demand fundamental freedoms. The sentences imposed amount to decades of imprisonment. Despite repeated calls from the United States for their release, Havana has ignored these demands.”

“’Our focus in Cuba is to promote private sector development and address some of the humanitarian challenges, such as the lack of economic resources and food,’ said Nichols.”

“’There is hunger, maybe not a famine, but a lot of hunger in Cuba. The economic activity of the private sector supports the well-being of ordinary people, and we have tried to support this with changes in economic regulations.’”

“In May 2024, the Joe Biden administration implemented measures to strengthen the private sector on the island, allowing Cuban entrepreneurs to open bank accounts in the United States and carry out international transactions. Cloud services were also authorized to improve Internet access and financial options were expanded to benefit the population.”

“However, the Cuban regime has hindered this development. It has restricted wholesale trade for private actors, limiting it exclusively to contracts with state entities. In addition, it eliminated incentives for new businesses, imposed higher requirements for entrepreneurship, increased taxes and tightened accounting regulations, further hampering private sector growth.”

“’’The solution to the problems Cuba faces at this time is democracy and increased freedoms,’ Nichols stressed, arguing that greater openness would allow for ‘more economic growth’ and general well-being for the population.”

“’You cannot treat the symptoms, such as the blackouts, without addressing the real disease: the lack of democracy in Cuba,’ Nichols concluded.

Reactions

There is a lot of truth in these remarks by Deputy Secretary Nichols. However, it misleadingly omits referring to U.S. actions that have contributed to the current unpleasant state of the relationship: maintenance of the U.S. embargo of the island and the U.S. designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism.

Note shold also be made about this blog’s posts about President Obama’s leadership in fostering a normalization of this bilateral relationship and the first Trump administration’s abandonment of these Obama efforts and the failure of the Biden Administration to return to the Obama normalization campaign.

================================

[1] Ten years after the ‘thaw’ with Havana, the U.S. says it was a ;missed opportunity,’ Diario de Cuba (Dec. 17. 2024); Penton, “A missed opportunity,’ says the US a decade after the thaw with Cuba, Marti Noricias (Dec. 16, 2024); Get to know us, Marti Noticias. See also Why Are Cuba and the U.S. Still Mired in the Cold War?, dwkcommentaries.com (Dec. 16, 2024).

 

Why Are Cuba and the U.S. Still Mired in the Cold War? 

This is the title of a lengthy article in Foreign Policy by William H. LeoGrande, professor of government at American University in Washington, D.C. and a respected commentator on the important topic of this bilateral relation.[1]

Obama’s Normalization Effort

The starting point for his analysis is a review of the 10th anniversary of President Obama’s public announcement of his Administration’s start of normalization of relations with Cuba. Highlights of that effort were “ending the U.S. designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, reopening of both countries embassies, President Obama’s visit to Cuba, loosening of restrictions on U.S. citizens travel to the island and resumption of U.S. airlines travel to Cuba, resulting increases in U.S. travel to the island, establishing a bilateral commission to oversee the work of 18 diplomatic working groups; and Obama’s prediction of an end to the U.S. embargo” (that did not happen). Nevertheless, this effort at normalization “was immensely popular both at home and abroad. Pope Francis blessed it, the Cuban people loved it, and the general U.S. public supported it, including more than half of Cuban Americans.”[2]

Trump’s First Term’s Return to Hostile Relations

LeoGrande then notes that in  his first term, Trump adopted new regulations to restrict U.S. travel to the island, impose limits on remittances, block business with Cuban companies managed by its military, disband bilateral working groups on various issues plus returned to Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism.[3]

Biden’s Failure To Return to Obama’s Normalization

Leo Grande then had these brief remarks about President Biden. “During [Biden’s] campaign, he criticized the impact of Trump’s policies on Cuban families and promised to restore Obama’s policy of normalization ‘in large part.’ But he never did. Biden did adopt some ‘half-measures.’ Most importantly, he left Cuba on the lise of state sponsors of terrorism. The result has been an incoherent hybrid policy . . .and there is little indication that he will use his lame-duck period to finally keep the Cuba-policy promises he made in 2020.” [4]

Trump Redux

Leo Grande says, “Trump’s return to the White House could presage a return to maximum pressure, especially with Rubio as secretary of states and Rep. Mike Waltz as national security advisor. Rubio and Republican Cuban Americans on the Hill will surely push for it, just as they did in Trump’s first term. They will point out that 70 percent of Cuban Americans in Florida voted for him and that a recent Florida International University (FIU) poll found 72 percent of Cuban American respondents support maximum pressure to promote regime change.” [5]

“But resuming maximum pressure would stir a political hornet’s nest. After eight years of intense sanctions exacerbated by the Cuban government’s policy mistakes, the island is suffering an unprecedented economic and social crisis. Life is so hard and prospects for the future are so grim that more than a million Cubans—9 percent of the population—emigrated in the past three years.  Three-quarters of them have come to the United States, 690,000 arrived undocumented at the southern border, another 100,000 admitted under Biden’s humanitarian parole program. If Trump adopts policies that deepen Cuba’s crisis, the new surge of migrants could dwarf these numbers, which would seriously complicate his plans to end irregular immigration.”

Conclusion

LeoGrande concludes his article with the following words:

“[T]he key lesson from the fleeting rapprochement that began 10 years ago on Dec. 17, 2014, is that engagement benefits both countries and that bold and determined leaders can make it happen. The enthusiasm with which Cubans, Americans, and people around the world embraced the prospect of peace between the United States and Cuba underscored just how long overdue reconciliation was. Both Obama and Raúl Castro spoke of rebuilding bridges between their countries, and both acknowledged it would be hard to put decades of animosity to rest. It has proven harder than anyone expected in the halcyon days following Dec. 17, but the ties that bind Cuba and the United States—ties of family, commerce, culture, and the shared interests that come from living next door to one another—will eventually overcome the resistance of even the most recalcitrant politicians. As Henry Kissinger recognized half a century ago, ‘perpetual antagonism’ between the United States and Cuba need not be normal.’”

“Cuban Americans are not likely to support closing the southern border to Cuban migrants, and immigration law prohibits discrimination on the basis of nationality. If the administration tries to make an exception for Cubans, the policy will certainly be challenged in court. Trump’s plans to deport undocumented immigrants could face even bigger problems. Tearing recent Cuban migrants from their families, many of whom paid traffickers thousands of dollars to bring their relatives here, would cause a political firestorm in south Florida. The FIU poll found that 72 percent of respondents support humanitarian parole for Cuban migrants and that half are planning to bring relatives still in Cuba to the United States in the future.”

“In foreign policy, tougher Cuba sanctions would complicate relations with Mexico. President Claudia Sheinbaum is supporting Cuba by sending it cheap oil. In 2023, her predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, warned the Biden administration that Cuban migration spurred by U.S. sanctions was causing problems for Mexico and complicating cooperation with Washington on migration issues. Cooperation with Mexico, as Trump learned in his first term, is indispensable for limiting undocumented migration and narcotics trafficking across the southern border, which are all top priorities for him.”

“Escalating sanctions on Cuba could also complicate Trump’s desire to improve relations with Russia. Moscow has grown closer with Havana in recent years, expanding relations beyond economic cooperation into a ‘strategic partnership,’ as the two countries describe it. Cuba has defended Russia’s rationale for its invasion of Ukraine, making Havana a valuable ally in the Global South. And Russian President Vladimir Putin clearly values having an outpost in the United States “near abroad,” if only as a geopolitical thorn in Washington’s side. In short, Russia has a clear interest in the survival of the Cuban regime.”

“I f sanctions succeed in destabilizing Cuba to the point that the state fails and social violence erupts, the pressure from Cuban Americans for U.S. military intervention will be immense. Cuban American elected officials demanded intervention in July 2021, in response to the Cuban government’s suppression of nationwide demonstrations, even though the largely peaceful protests only lasted a few days. U.S. intervention would poison relations with Latin America for a generation.”

“But the key lesson from the fleeting rapprochement that began 10 years ago on Dec. 17, 2014, is that engagement benefits both countries and that bold and determined leaders can make it happen. The enthusiasm with which Cubans, Americans, and people around the world embraced the prospect of peace between the United States and Cuba underscored just how long overdue reconciliation was. Both Obama and Raúl Castro spoke of rebuilding bridges between their countries, and both acknowledged it would be hard to put decades of animosity to rest. It has proven harder than anyone expected in the halcyon days following Dec. 17, but the ties that bind Cuba and the United States—ties of family, commerce, culture, and the shared interests that come from living next door to one another—will eventually overcome the resistance of even the most recalcitrant politicians. As Henry Kissinger recognized half a century ago, “perpetual antagonism” between the United States and Cuba need not be normal.”

Reactions

This blog recently has been publishing posts about the horrible times currently being suffered in Cuba and hence the need for the U.S. to return to the normalization efforts of President Obama/ [6]

================================

 

[1] Leo Grande, Why Are Cuba and the U.S. Still Mired in the Cold War?, Foreign Policy (Dec. 12, 2024).

[2] See the posts listed in the following sections of List of Posts to dwkcommentaries—Topical: CUBA [as of 5/4/20]: 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.

[3] See the posts listed in  the following sections of  that List of Posts: U.S. (Trump) & Cuba Relations, 2016-17; and U.S. (Trump) and Cuba, 2018.

[4] I concur in LeoGrande’s analysis and conclusion.

[5] Another concurrence.

[6] E.g., U.S. Congressmen Ask President Biden To Provide Sanctions Relief and Other Aid to Cuba (Nov. 20, 2024); Cuba’s Unstoppable Spiral of Misery, dwkcommentaries.com (Dec. 4, 2024);Diario de Cuba’s Editorial on Its 15th Anniversary, dwkcommentaries.com (Dec. 5, 2024); Will Cuba Lose Almost Half of Its Population by 2100?,  dwkcommentaries.com (Dec.14, 2024).

 

Discovery of Lone U.S. Response to U.N.’s Latest Condemnation of the U.S. Embargo of Cuba      

Previous posts provided details about the U.N. General Assembly’s October 30, 2024, overwhelming adoption of  a resolution condemning the U.S. embargo of Cuba, including the brief remarks at that session  of U.S. Deputy Ambassador Paul Folmsbee, as well as some criticisms of that resolution.[1]

This blogger unexpectedly found what appears to be the only official U.S. comments on that U.N.. General Assembly resolution at the very end of the State Department’s Press Briefing on October 30 by Matthew Miller, the Department’s Spokesperson.[2]

Matthew Miller’s Comments

A journalist opened this subject with the following comments/questions and Miller’s responses:

  • Journalist: “T]he vote happened today in the UN on the Cuba embargo. Do you know what the vote was?”
  • Miller: “Yeah, it was a predictable vote in line with past votes. (Laughter.)
  • Journalist: “ Exactly. But just for the record, let’s say, it was 187 to 2 —with one abstention. And the one abstention wasn’t even a Pacific Island nation. It was Moldova.”
  • Journalist: “So at what point, though, are you guys going to realize that the entire world, with the exception of you and Israel, thinks that the embargo is a really bad idea and should be stopped?
  • Miller: “Look, I think we are quite clear on the opinion of other countries around the world. And it’s one with which we disagree. We take their opinion seriously, but we make our own policy determinations . . .on these matters. . . Certainly we would welcome other countries sharing our opinion in this. But we’re not blind to the history of countries around the world having a very different view of this matter. It long predates this administration. But as I said, we make our own determinations.
  • Journalist: “What about the Obama administration disagreement? Were they wrong?”
  • Miller: “I don’t have anything to comment on previous administration decisions.”

The Department’s Official Statement on U.S.-Cuba Relations[3]

“The United States seeks a stable, prosperous, and free country for the Cuban people. The United States pursues limited engagement with Cuba that advances our national interests and empowers the Cuban people while restricting economic practices that disproportionately benefit the Cuban government or its military, intelligence, or security agencies at the expense of the Cuban people. The U.S. government seeks to promote human rights, religious freedom, and democracy, encourages the development of telecommunications and the internet in Cuba, supports the growth of Cuba’s nascent private sector and civil society, and engages in areas that advance the interests of the United States and the Cuban people. The United States is committed to supporting safe, orderly, and legal migration from Cuba through the effective implementation of the U.S.-Cuba Migration Accords. Due to injuries sustained by our diplomatic community in Havana, visa processing for most Cuban applicants is presently taking place in third countries.”

On Bilateral Economic Relations, the State Department says, “Although economic sanctions remain in place, the United States is the largest provider of food and agricultural products to Cuba, with exports of those goods valued at $220.5 million in 2018. The United States is also a significant supplier of humanitarian goods to Cuba, including medicines and medical products, with total value of all exports to Cuba of $275.9 million. Remittances from the United States, estimated at $3.5 billion for 2017, play an important role in Cuba’s state-controlled economy.”

U.S. Integrated Country Strategy for Cuba[4]

In recent years the State Department has adopted a uniform structure for integrated country strategies for every country in the world. Here are the Chief of Mission Priorities for that document for Cuba:

“The Mission is focused on five key priorities: the protection of American citizens in and visiting Cuba, supporting Cubans who seek to exercise their universal human rights, promoting economic freedom and an empowered private sector, protecting the national security of the United States and its citizens, and ensuring the safety and well-being of staff assigned in Havana.”

“Ensuring Consistent American Citizen Services”

 “Immigration from Cuba to the United States continues to increase the number of Cuban Americans who, more than ever, are returning to the island to maintain their connections and support family with remittances and necessary supplies. The Mission regularly engages with the Cuban government concerning their rights and to ensure consular access to imprisoned American citizens, many of whom the Cuban government considers to be “residents” of Cuba, and thus citizens of Cuba regardless of their U.S. citizenship. The

“The Mission will continue robust communication and outreach efforts to educate travelers on the difficulties of traveling to Cuba and the assistance the U.S. Embassy can provide when required. Much of this communication centers around disaster preparedness, access to funds while traveling, hospital care, death assistance, and welfare visits while an individual is in prison. Continued relationship building with partners to assist U.S. citizens will remain a crucial priority for supporting U.S. citizens abroad.”

“Supporting Human Rights”

“A generational transition to a post-Cuban Revolution leadership has failed to create significant changes: the Cuban government continues to use repressive measures, including incarceration, coercive economic policies, and misinformation to suppress the Cuban peoples’ freedoms. Approximately 1,000 political prisoners remain unjustly imprisoned in Cuba. Cuban authorities regularly harass, imprison, or force into exile those who express dissenting opinions.”

“Encouraging an Empowered, Innovative, and Inclusive Cuban Society”

“Cuba is experiencing the worst economic crisis in its history. Food scarcity, electricity and water shortages, and inflation make life difficult for Cubans. Incremental reforms of Cuba’s centrally planned economy – including the legal recognition of micro, small, and medium enterprises – have been insufficient to align Cuba’s economic needs with the realities of doing business in a global economy. The Embassy will continue to seek new ways to engage Cuba’s independent economic actors, foster Cuba’s entrepreneurial eco-system, while expanding outreach to improve the economic outlook for Afro- Cubans, women, and other historically disadvantaged groups.”

“Protecting the Security of the United States and its Citizens”

“Over 500,000 Cubans have migrated to the United States in the last three years. It is in the interest of the United States and Cuba to ensure that migration from Cuba is safe, orderly, and legal. The Embassy has resumed migration-related services in Havana after a several-year hiatus, to include the issuance of all categories of immigrant visas and the processing of cases under the Cuban Family Reunification Parole (CFRP) Program. The mission will also seek to maintain and expand the existing cooperation between the United States and Cuba on matters related to maritime migration, law enforcement, health and environmental cooperation, and disaster response.”

 “Building a Management Platform to Best Support U.S. goals and Future Mission Growth”

“Embassy Havana’s chancery is a culturally significant but obsolete building that has suffered from decades of delayed maintenance and significant damage from its seaside location. The Cuban government routinely denies the secure shipments to perform necessary maintenance. Given these challenges, Embassy Havana is building a management platform prepared to support U.S. priorities now and into the future, especially ensuring a safe working and living environment. We are still in the process of returning to “normal operations” following a reduction of Embassy staffing to emergency levels in 2017, and restarting full immigrant visa and limited NIV operations in 2023.”

===========================

[1] U.N. General Assembly Overwhelmingly Adopts Resolution Condemning U.S. Embargo of Cuba, dwkcommentaries.com (Oct. 30, 2024); Criticisms of the Recent U.N. General Assembly Resolution Against the U.S. Embargo of Cuba,   dwkcommentaries.com (Oct. 31, 2024).

[2] State Dep’t, Department Press Briefing—October 30, 2024); State Dep’t, Matthew Miller (Department Spokesperson bio).

[3] State Dep’t, U.S.-Cuba Relations,

[4] State Dep’t, Integrated Country Strategy: Cuba.

U.S. Congressmen Ask President Biden To Provide Sanctions Relief and Other Aid to Cuba   

On November 15, a group of 18 U.S. Congressmen sent a letter to President Biden “with a deep sense of urgency to request 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.”[1]

“Since 2022, over 850,000 Cubans have sought refuge in the United States—the largest exodus in the island’s history. The ongoing collapse of essential services, particularly electricity, has further exacerbated this exodus. The latest energy crisis threatens to trigger another unprecedented wave of migration, with hundreds of thousands more Cubans likely to seek entry to the U.S.”

Therefore, their letter “respectfully urge your administration to quickly take the following actions to address this urgent crisis and safeguard U.S. interests:”

  1. “Remove the State Sponsor of Terror Designation “

“We strongly recommend removing Cuba from the State Sponsors of Terrorism (SSOT) list. This will reduce barriers to oil shipments and clarify that carriers and insurers can operate legally in Cuba, facilitating access to energy and economic relief for the Cuban people.”

  1. “Expedite Emergency Humanitarian and Technical Assistance to the Cuban People”

“The U.S. government should immediately provide humanitarian aid, including food and medicine, while deploying technical assistance and equipment to stabilize Cuba’s electrical grid. This aid should be delivered to the Cuban people without delay, and in coordination with international partners such as the European Union, FAO, WFP, and PAHO to maximize its impact.

  1. “Issue Safe Harbor Letters to Address Overcompliance with Sanctions”

“One key barrier to increased non-government assistance to Cuba is the fear that private businesses and non-profit organizations have of running afoul of U.S. sanctions, whether or not a General License is available from Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). We strongly urge the provision of OFAC safe harbor letters to ensure that

humanitarian aid efforts to Cuba, including the provision of food, medicine, and technical assistance, fully comply with U.S. sanctions regulations and are protected from enforcement actions.”

  1. “Suspend Sanctions Impeding Aid”

“We urge you to suspend sanctions that hinder the flow of humanitarian assistance, including restoring the EAR license exception to allow donations to Cuban health and humanitarian relief entities. These changes will enable quicker assistance from U.S. humanitarian organizations, religious groups, and private citizens to the Cuban people.”

  1. “Facilitate Energy Infrastructure Repair and Modernization”

“The U.S. should fast-track the export of critical equipment needed to repair and upgrade Cuba’s energy grid. In addition, lifting Cuba-specific restrictions on oil and LPG exports will help prevent a total grid collapse.”

“Regardless of the Cuban government’s stance, it is imperative that the U.S. government demonstrates a willingness to aid the Cuban people directly. The Cuban government’s frequent attempts to blame the U.S. for the island’s problems should not deter us from offering the assistance necessary to alleviate suffering of the Cuban people and prevent further regional destabilization.”

“The escalating energy crisis in Cuba presents not just a humanitarian concern but a serious national security challenge for the U.S. If left unaddressed, the situation risks further destabilizing the Caribbean region, increasing migration flows, and straining U.S. border management systems, while strengthening the hand of malign actors in the Western Hemisphere. Acting swiftly to provide humanitarian and technical support will not only alleviate immediate suffering but also open avenues for broader diplomatic engagement. This engagement can extend to critical issues such as the release of political prisoners, human rights, and improved governance, building a foundation for more constructive dialogue between the two countries.”

“We understand that absent action from Congress, executive actions on Cuba are subject to reversal. That should not deter us from acting to avert further suffering and damage to United States interests. Even temporary relief can save lives and permit the Cuban people a chance to insulate themselves and their families from further vulnerability. We urge your administration to act swiftly to implement these measures and mitigate the growing crisis in Cuba while advancing U.S. interests in the region.”

The Congressmen who signed this letter were Barbara Lee, James McGovern, Gregory Meeks, Joaquin Castro, Pramila Jayapal, Ilhan Omar, Greg Casar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jesus “Chuy”” Garcia, Delia C. Ramirez, Nydia M. Velazquez, Raul M. Grijalva, Zoe Lofgren, Mark Pocan, Steve Cohen, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Jonathan L. Jackson and Jan Schakowsky.

Comments

Thanks to these Congressmen for making these suggestions to President Biden in the last weeks of his Administration. They are measure that are needed by Cuba and by the U.S., and President Biden should implement them as soon as possible. He also should ask Congress to terminate the U.S. embargo of Cuba, but that faces the obstacle of Republican (slim) control of the House of Representatives.

========================

[1] Press Release, Representatives Lee, McGovern, Meeks, and Castro Lead Congressional Letter to President Biden Urging Sanctions Relief for Cuba Amid Humanitarian Crisis, (Nov. 10, 2024); Press Release, US Congressmen want Biden to facilitate the repair of Cuba’s ‘energy infrastructure,’ Diario de Cuba (Nov. 20, 2024); Letter, Congressmen Barbara Lee, James McGovern, Gregroy Meeks, Joquin Castro, Pramila Jaypal, Ilhan Omar, Greg Casas, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jesus “Clay” Garcia, Delia C. Ramirez, Nydia M. Velazquez, Raul M. Grijalva, Zoe Lofgren, Mark Pocan, Steve Cohen, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Jonathan L. Jackson and Jan Schakowsky to President Biden (Nov. 15, 2024); U.S. Congressmen ask Biden to remove Cuba from terrorist list, Granma (Nov. 19, 2024).

 

 

U.N. General Assembly Overwhelmingly Adopts Resolution Condemning U.S. Embargo of Cuba       

On October 30, 2024, the U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly passed Cuba’s resolution condemning the U.S. embargo pf the island (187 to 2 with 4 abstentions).The U.S. and Israel again voted against the resolution while the abstentions came from Moldova, Ukraine, Somalia and Venezuela. Here now is a summary of that resolution and the General Assembly proceedings regarding same. [1]  A subsequent post will examine some of the criticisms against that U.N. resolution.

Summary of the Resolution

The resolution was titled “Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba,”

“The resolution reaffirmed, among other principles, the sovereign equality of States, non-intervention and non-interference in their internal affairs and freedom of international trade and navigation.”

The Resolution “also reiterated its call for all States to refrain from promulgating or applying restrictive laws and measures, in line with their obligations under the UN Charter and international law, which, inter alia, reaffirm the freedom of trade and navigation.”

The Resolution “once again urges States that have and continue to apply such laws and measures to take the steps necessary to repeal or invalidate them as soon as possible in accordance with their legal regime.”

The Resolution also “recalled the measures adopted by US President Barack Obama in 2015 and 2016 to modify several aspects of the application of the embargo, “which contrast with the measures applied since 2017 to reinforce its implementation.”

Remarks About the Resolution[2]

Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez urged the assembly to support “reason and justice,the U.N. Charter and international law and back the resolution.”

The Foreign Minister said the U.S. embargo has imposed “the most cruel and long-lasting unilateral coercive measures that have ever been applied against any country” and that it constitutes “a crime of genocide” and an “ act of economic warfare during times of peace.” Moreover,” the American aim is to weaken Cuba’s economic life, leave its people hungry and desperate, and overthrow the government.”

Rodriguez also blamed the U.S. government’s “maximum pressure policy” aimed at depriving Cuba of the imported fuel it relies on for a widespread blackout this month, including when Hurricane Oscar lashed the island.”

U.S. Deputy Ambassador Paul Folmsbee told the Assembly after the vote that the “United States stands with the Cuban people. We strongly support their pursuit of a future with respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.” He also added the following comments:

  • “Approximately 1,000 unjustly detained political prisoners remain behind bars in Cuba – more than at any point in Cuba’s recent history. Nearly 700 of those detentions are connected to the July 11, 2021, historic protests. These people have languished in horrible conditions in Cuban jails for exercising their freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly to demand better living conditions from their government.”
  • “Despite Cuba’s membership in the UN Human Rights Council, the Cuban government has delayed responding to several requests by special procedures that mandate holders of the UN Human Rights Council send independent experts to Cuba, who would help advance respect for human rights, including freedom of expression, freedom of religion or belief, and the freedom of peaceful assembly. Some of these requests have remained pending for more than 10 years.”
  • “Sanctions are one element of our broader effort to advance democracy and promote respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in Cuba. We therefore oppose this resolution.”
  • “That said, we recognize the challenges the Cuban people face. That is why U.S. sanctions include exemptions and authorizations relating to exports of food, medicine, and other basic goods to Cuba.”
  • “The United States remains a significant source of basic goods to the Cuban people. In 2023, the United States exported nearly $336 million in agricultural products and authorized another $100 billion in humanitarian exports, demonstrating America’s desire to help the Cuban people.”

To scattered booing in the assembly chamber, Folmsbee concluded by saying the General Assembly should urge the Cuban government “to adhere to its human rights obligations and listen to the Cuban people and their aspirations to determine their own future.”

==========================

[1] Lederer, U.N. General Assembly condemns the US economic embargo of Cuba for a 32nd year, Wash. Post (Oct. 30, 2024); Bruno Rodriguez at the UN: “Who can believe that US policy is to help Cuba?, Granma (Oct. 30, 2024); The great US irony: are sanctions meant to help Cuba?, Granma (Oct. 30, 2024).This blog has published posts about previous U.N. resolutions against the U.S. embargo. (See, e.g., “U.S. Embargo of Cuba” section in List of Posts to dekcommentaries—Topical: Cuba [as of 5/4/20].

[2] U.S. Mission to the U.N., Explanation of Vote on a UN General Assembly Resolution on the Cuba Embargo (Oct. 30, 2014).

U.S. Extends Cuba Embargo for Another Year  

On September 18, Prewsident Biden extended the U.S. embargo of Cuba for another year, saying it “was in the national interest” of the U.S.

Just six days earlier, Cuban “Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla said at a press conference that, without this US policy, the island’s gross domestic product would have grown by 8%.” However, he did not note that “in almost ten years, donations from that country to the Island totaled 153,821,102 dollars.”

Nor did the Cuban government mention that in 2023 U.S. exports to Cuban authorities and private enterprises amounted to $342,607,027.

======================

Biden extends US embargo against Cuba for another year, Diario de Cuba (Sep. 19, 20240

 

U.S. and Cuba Hold Law Enforcement Dialogue    

On April 17, the U.S. and Cuba held a law enforcement dialogue in Washington, D.C. The main objective was to advance discussions at the working levels of the two governments. [1]

A U.S. offical said, ” Effective cooperation in criminal matters may sometimes include the exchange of information, such as information on fugitives or other wanted persons, or real-time communication between the United States Coast Guard and the Cuban Border Guard to detect human smugglers or drug traffickers.”

According to that official, “these discussions are not a new initiative and do not represent new diplomatic activity” between Washington and Havana, but rather “are routine working-level discussions that are carried out within the framework of the broader dialogue on the law enforcement between the United States and Cuba.”

The U.S. official said that for decades, the US Coast Guard and the Regional Security Office of the [U.S.] Embassy in Havana have maintained working-level communication channels with the Cuban Government to cooperate on issues of mutual interest, such as migration. irregularity and the security problems faced by diplomatic personnel and US citizens in Cuba.”

“Participating in these talks underscores the United States’ commitment to maintaining constructive talks with Cuba, when appropriate, to advance US security interests.“

Cuban Vice Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossío, who led the Cuban delegation, struck a more conciliatory tone and told CBS News that his government was open to accepting more deportation flights from the United States. Currently, Cossío said Cuba is receiving one deportation flight per month, but he suggested that number was decided by the U.S. side and that Cuban authorities have previously said they were willing to accept more.

A State Department spokesperson said that Cuban authorities “have accepted a regular schedule of removal flights since the Migration Talks in April 2023. We are pleased to see these flights return to a more regular cadence.” He also said, “Ensuring safe, orderly, humane, and regular migration between Cuba and the United States remains a primary interest of the United States, consistent with our interest in fostering family reunification, and promoting greater respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in Cuba.Increased law enforcement cooperation enables the United States to better protect the American people and national security and to facilitate bringing criminals to justice.”

“Cuban officials also asked for relief from U.S. economic sanctions, according to a statement by the Cuban Foreign Ministry. The government is nearly bankrupt. It was recently unable to pay for shipments of oil and food that were aboard ships already in Cuban waters, officials revealed on state television. The Cuban government blames the U.S. embargo for the situation, but for years has been unable to reform its socialist economy, which is centrally planned and bogged down by bureaucratic restrictions and mismanagement.”

=====================

[1] Flores, Biden administration hosts ‘Cuban Day’ at the White House. Here is what to expect. Gazette Xtra (April 18, 2024);

Menoyo Florian, Washington and Havana talk about police and criminal cooperation in another bilateral meeting, Diario de Cuba (April 18, 2022).

 

Once Again, U.N. General Assembly Condemns U.S. Embargo of Cuba

On November 2, 2023, the U.N. General Assembly again condemned for the 31st time, the U.S. embargo of Cuba. This time the vote was 187-2 with one abstention. The negative votes were cast by the U.S. and Israel; the abstention by Ukraine. Three other countries did not vote on the resolution: Somalia, Venezuela and Moldova.[1]

U.S. Deputy Ambassador Paul Flambee, after the vote, told the Assembly that the United States “stands resolutely with the Cuban people. We strongly support their pursuit of a future with respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.” He added the following:

  • “Approximately 1,000 political prisoners remain behind bars in Cuba – more than at any point in Cuba’s recent history. Nearly 700 of those detentions owe to the historic July 11, 2021, protests during which members of civil society including human rights defenders, as well as minors of age, exercise their freedom of expression and right of peaceful assembly. We share the Cuban people’s dream of democracy in Cuba and join international partners in calling for the Cuban government to immediately release all those unjustly detained.”
  • “Despite Cuba’s membership in the UN Human Rights Council, the Cuban government has delayed responding to requests to send independent experts to Cuba, who would help advance respect for human rights, including freedom of expression, freedom of religion, or belief, and the freedom to assemble peacefully. Some of these requests have remained pending for 10 years.”
  • “Sanctions are one set of tools in our broader effort toward Cuba to advance democracy and promote respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in Cuba.”
  • “We recognize the challenges the Cuban people face. That is why U.S. sanctions include exemptions and authorizations relating to the exports of food, medicine, and other humanitarian goods to Cuba.” In fact, the “United States remains a significant source of humanitarian goods to the Cuban people and one of Cuba’s principal trading partners. In 2002* alone, U.S. companies exported over $295 million worth of agricultural goods to Cuba, including food, to help meet the needs of the Cuban people.”

==============================

[1] Lederer. UN votes overwhelmingly to condemn US economic embargo on Cuba for 31st year and urge its lifting, Wash. Post (Oct. 2, 2023); The UN condemns the US embargo against Havana with 187 votes in favor, Diario de Cuba (Oct. 2, 2023); Explanation of Vote After the Vote on a UN General Assembly Resolution on the Cuba Embargo, U.S. Mission to the U.N. (Nov. 2, 2023). This blog has reported on some of the prior approvals  of such resolutions by the General Assembly.  (See, e.g., U.N. General Assembly Again Condemns U.S. Embargo (Blockade) of Cuba, dwkcommentaroes.com (Nov, 8, 2002).)

U.N. General Assembly Again Condemns U.S. Embargo (Blockade) of Cuba

On November 3, 2022, the U.N. General Assembly again condemned the U.S. embargo (blockade) of Cuba. The vote this time for the Cuban resolution was 185 to 2 (with the U.S. and Israel voting against the resolution) while two others abstained (Brazil and Ukraine).[1]

The resolution “reiterated its call on all States to refrain from promulgating and applying laws and measures of the kind referred to in the text’s preamble, in conformity with their obligations under the United Nations Charter and international law. It also urged States that have and continue to apply such laws and measures to take the steps necessary to repeal or invalidate them as soon as possible in accordance with their legal regimes.”

Cuba’s Argument for Its Resolution

Cuba alleged in support of its resolution that “only between August 2021 and February 2022 that unilateral policy caused Cuba losses in the order of 3,806.5 million dollars. The figure is 49% higher than that reported between January and July 2021 and a record in just seven months.”

“At current prices, [according to Cuba,] the accumulated damages during six decades of the blockade amount to 150,410.8 million dollars, with a great weight on sectors such as health and education, in addition to the damage to the national economy and the quality of life of Cuban families.”

“In the first 14 months of the Biden Administration alone, [said Cuba,] the losses caused by the blockade amounted to 6,364 million dollars, which is equivalent to an impact of more than 454 million dollars a month and more than 15 million dollars a day.”

Finally, Cuba claimed that  “The extraterritorial impact of the blockade harms the sovereignty of the countries of the United Nations, sanctions their businessmen and impedes access to their ports for third party ships that dock in Cuba. It also prevents the importation into Cuba of articles produced in any country when they have 10% or more of U.S. components.”

Cuba’s foreign Minister, Rodriguez Parrilla, also said, “During the pandemic, the blockade was further tightened, causing more delays in the delivery of necessary medical equipment. But despite limited resources, Cuba cooperated with other countries, sending medical brigades to provide aid. Equally unceasing, he said, is the fraudulent inclusion of Cuba in the United States Department of State’s unilateral list of countries that allegedly sponsor terrorism. This forces Cuba to pay twice the usual price for commodities on the international market. Cuba has rejected all forms of terrorism.”

The Foreign Minister added, “The current United States Administration does not have a Cuba policy, he said. Rather it continues to exert the “maximum pressure” policy developed under the Donald Trump Administration. Over the last few months, it has taken positive steps to alleviate certain restrictions, but the blockade continues to be the central element defining Cuba-United States policy.”

Other Countries’ Support for the Resolution

During the General Assembly debate over the Cuba resolution, “Member States condemned the economic embargo against Cuba, calling it cruel, inhumane and punitive. They urged the United States to begin a dialogue with Cuba based on the equality of States and respect for sovereignty and independence.”

“Representatives of several developing States also thanked Cuba for providing them with much-needed medical aid, nurses and vaccines at the height of the pandemic. Nicaragua’s delegate said that Cuba, thanks to its revolutionary spirit and socialist conviction, has been able to stand alongside the developed countries that sanction it by producing vaccines and helping ‘our developing peoples.’”

“Speakers for several Caribbean countries pointed out also that the United States blockade has had widespread implications and consequences and was stifling not only Cuba’s growth but that of the entire region. Several delegates questioned how the world could commit to implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development while locking out one country from fairly participating in its own socioeconomic development.”

“’No nation should be punished and exploited by another,’ Gabon’s representative said. ‘Cuba is peaceful and cooperative and deserves the continued support of the international community in calling for an end to the embargo.’”

“Member States also questioned how they could overwhelmingly call for an end to the embargo year after year for decades without any results. ‘Every year, we speak about the devastating impact of the embargo on the people of Cuba, but we see no effort to remove the restrictions,’ Zimbabwe’s delegate said.”

The U.S. Statement Against the Resolution[2]

The U.S. statement purportedly justifying its opposition to the resolution was provided during the debate by John Kelley, Political Counselor, who said the following:

  • “The United States remains committed to the Cuban people in their pursuit of freedom, prosperity, and a future with greater dignity. We are focused on the political and economic wellbeing of the Cuban people and center our efforts on democracy and human rights and fundamental freedoms.”
  • “Cubans of all walks of life are speaking out for fundamental freedoms, protesting Cuban government repression, and advocating for a better future. In July of 2021, the world witnessed tens of thousands of Cubans across the island take to the streets to peacefully demand freedom. The Cuban government responded to the demands of the Cuban people with crackdowns on peaceful protesters, journalists, and human rights defenders.”
  • “The Cuban government has used harsh prison sentences, even against minors, intimidation tactics, arrests, Internet interruptions, government-sponsored mobs, and horrendous prison conditions to try to prevent Cubans from exercising their human rights.”
  • “Cuban security officials have also forced into exile human rights activists and journalists who had been either detained or warned about their activities. We join international partners in urging the Cuban government to release political prisoners immediately and unconditionally and to protect the freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly of all individuals in Cuba.”
  • “As we hold the Cuban government accountable, our support for the Cuban people is unwavering. The embargo includes exemptions and authorizations relating to exports of food, medicine, and other humanitarian goods to Cuba.”
  • “We recognize the challenges the Cuban people face. The people of the United States and U.S. organizations donate a significant amount of humanitarian goods to the Cuban people, and the United States is one of Cuba’s principal trading partners. Since 1992, the United States has authorized billions of dollars of exports to Cuba, including food and other agricultural commodities, medicines, medical devices, telecommunications equipment, consumer goods, and other items to support the Cuban people. In 2021 alone, U.S. companies exported over $295 million worth of agricultural goods to Cuba, including food, to help address the Cuban people’s basic needs.”
  • “Last month, following the devastating impact of Hurricane Ian, the United States announced it is providing to the Cuban people critical humanitarian aid through trusted international partners working directly with Cubans whose communities were devastated by the storm. The U.S. Agency for International Development will provide $2 million in funding for emergency relief to those in need in Cuba.”
  • “Mr. President, the United States opposes this resolution, but we stand with the Cuban people and will continue to seek ways to provide meaningful support to them. We encourage this body to urge the Cuban government to listen to the Cuban people and their demands to determine their own future.”

Conclusion

Amazingly none of the major U.S. sources of international news—New York Times, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal—had any articles about this U.N. General Assembly resolution.

In contrast, this blog by a U.S. citizen living in the U.S. without any family connections with Cuba, but with involvement in Minneapolis’ Westminster Presbyterian Church’s partnership with a Presbyterian-Reformed Church on the island, has contained many blog posts opposing the U.S. embargo of Cuba.[3] The most recent such post had an abbreviated history of the embargo and discussed the last U.N. General Assembly resolution against the embargo that passed on June 23, 2021, by a vote of 184 to 2 (again the U.S. and Israel in opposition) with three abstentions (Colombia, Brazil and Ukraine).[4]

=====================================

[1] U.N., General Assembly: 28th plenary meeting, 77th session (Nov. 3, 2022); Rodriguez, Overwhelming Victory for Cuba at the UN: 185 countries vote against the blockade, Granma (Nov. 3, 2022); Cuba Foreign Minister Rodriguez Parrilla, The world would be better off without the blockade, Granma (Nov. 3, 2022); How little the United States respect the world by maintaining the blockade against Cuba!, Granma (Nov. 2, 2022) (Cuba President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez’ Twitter statement); U.N. Secretary General, Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba (Jan. 20, 2022).

[2] U.S. Mission to the United Nations, Explanation of Vote After the Vote on a UN General Assembly Resolution on the Cuba Embargo (Nov. 3, 2022).

[3]  See the posts listed in the “U.S. Embargo of Cuba” section of List of Posts to dwkcommentaries—Topical: CUBA [as of 5/4/20}.

[4]  Criticism of President Biden’s “New Cuba Policy,” dwkcommentaries.com (Oct. 1, 2022).