Cuban official accuses US of ‘piracy’ against sanctioned Caribbean island

Al JazeeraCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete by Al Jazeera StaffJanuary 25, 2026 at 10:41 AM

AI Summary

medium article 2 min

In January 2026, Cuban Ambassador Carlos de Cespedes accused the United States of "international piracy" for blocking Venezuelan oil shipments to Cuba. This accusation follows the US military attack on Venezuela and the abduction of President Nicolas Maduro, which has effectively halted Venezuelan oil exports to the island. De Cespedes stated that the US is imposing a "marine siege" on Cuba, restricting vital oil supplies. The US President has vowed to cut off all Venezuelan oil to Cuba, believing it will lead to the country's collapse. Despite this pressure, Cuba is reportedly importing oil from other sources, such as Mexico. The Cuban ambassador insists that US pressure "will not subjugate" Cuba.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Mexico 40% Colombia 40% Caribbean Sea 60% Nicolás Maduro (Maduro) ×270% Donald Trump ×270% Carlos de Cespedes ×280% United States ×890% Venezuela ×690% Cuba ×10100%

Keywords

us-cuba relations 90% venezuelan oil 80% international piracy 80% oil blockade 70% sanctions 70% nicolas maduro 60% us foreign policy 60% military attack 50% regime change 50% oil tankers 40%