Cuba's government has condemned new sanctions imposed by Donald Trump as "collective punishment," as tens of thousands marched in Havana on International Workers' Day to protest the measures and vow to defend the homeland. The rally, which took place outside the U.S. embassy, was led by President Miguel Diaz-Canel and former revolutionary leader Raul Castro under the slogan "Defend the Homeland."
Trump's Executive Order Targets Key Sectors
On Friday, Trump signed an executive order imposing sanctions on individuals operating in broad sections of the Cuban economy, including energy, defense, mining, financial services, and security. The order also targets Cuban officials accused of serious human rights abuses or corruption. Cuba's foreign minister, Bruno Rodriguez, rejected the measures as "unilateral coercive measures" and accused the U.S. of collective punishment against the Cuban people.
Economic Impact Deepens
The new sanctions come as Cuba faces a severe economic crisis, worsened by a U.S. fuel blockade imposed in January. Only one Russian oil tanker has reached the island since then, leading to chronic shortages and power cuts. Tourism, once Cuba's most lucrative industry, has plummeted. The island has been under a near-continuous U.S. trade embargo since Fidel Castro's 1959 revolution.
Jeremy Paner, a former U.S. Treasury sanctions investigator, described the move as the most significant for non-American companies since the embargo began. "Oil and gas, mining companies, and banks that have carefully segregated their Cuba operations from the United States are no longer protected," he said.
Trump's Rhetoric Escalates
Trump has previously mused about taking over Cuba, which lies just 145 kilometers from Florida. In a speech in Florida on Friday, he suggested deploying the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier to force Cuba's surrender. The comments have further strained relations, despite recent talks between senior U.S. officials and Cuban leaders in April.
Cuba's Response
President Diaz-Canel called on Cubans to mobilize "against the genocidal blockade and the crude imperial threats to our country." The U.S. has long demanded Cuba open its state-run economy, pay reparations for expropriated properties, and hold free elections. Cuba maintains that its socialist system is non-negotiable.
The fresh measures took effect during the May Day celebrations, which saw huge crowds march to the U.S. embassy. The rally underscored Cuba's defiance in the face of escalating U.S. pressure.
