Cuban official decries ‘massive punishment’ by US oil blockade

Diplomat Carlos de Cossio says US fuel embargo harms Cuba’s medical services, food production and standard of living.Published On 13 Feb 2026Cuban diplomat Carlos de Cossio has accused the United States of imposing collective punishment on his country as the administration of President Donald Trump ramps up pressure to choke the Caribbean island’s access to oil.In a post on X on Friday, de Cossio, who serves as Cuba’s deputy foreign minister, described the situation from Havana’s perspective.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Beyond pressure: What is the Trump administration’s endgame in Cuba?list 2 of 3Mexican ships arrive in Cuba with humanitarian cargo amid US oil blockadelist 3 of 3Protesters march in Venezuela as National Assembly weighs amnesty billend of list“To be clear: a. Cuba requires importing fuel. b.The US is applying threats & coercive measures to any country that provides it. c. Lack of fuel harms transportation, medical services, schooling, energy, production of food, the standard of living. d. Massive punishment is a crime,” he wrote.The Fourth Geneva Convention says that “collective penalties and likewise all measures of intimidation or of terrorism are prohibited” under international law.Cuba relied heavily on oil imports from Venezuela, which have been cut off after the abduction of the country’s leader, Nicolas Maduro, by US forces last month.After the fall of Maduro, Cuba turned to Mexico for fuel.But the White House has threatened to impose “additional tariffs on imports from any country that directly or indirectly provides oil to Cuba”.The Mexican government halted the oil supplies to Cuba after the Trump administration’s threat.But on Thursday, Mexico sent two ships loaded with humanitarian aid to Cuba.The US oil blockade comes as the Trump administration pursues a policy of regional dominance over the Americas.Washington targets CubaThe White House said in its National Security Strategy last year that Washington’s goal is to “restore American preeminence in the Western Hemisphere”.