Cuba Urges International Action Against U.S. Blockade Amid Escalating Energy Sanctions
BY Dr. Hana Saada
Cuba’s ambassador to Algeria, Héctor Igarza, called on the international community on Wednesday to oppose the escalating U.S. blockade against Cuba, warning that tightened energy-related sanctions were directly affecting the island’s sovereignty, economy and public health system.
Speaking at the Cuban embassy in Algiers before diplomats, civil society representatives and journalists, Igarza said recent measures adopted under U.S. President Donald Trump — including decisions issued on Jan. 29 and May 1 — marked a dangerous escalation by extending sanctions pressure to third-country actors through extraterritorial mechanisms rejected by Havana as illegal and aggressive.
The ambassador said the measures specifically target Cuba’s energy supply chain by pressuring maritime transport operators, insurers and fuel suppliers, arguing that Washington seeks to isolate the island and provoke systemic economic disruption.
For Cuba, he stressed, maritime security constitutes a strategic survival issue rather than a logistical matter, particularly for electricity generation, transport systems and essential public services increasingly affected by fuel shortages.
Igarza said the impact on Cuba’s healthcare system had become especially severe despite the resilience of the country’s medical infrastructure. He cited more than 96,000 patients awaiting surgery, including over 11,000 children, alongside disruptions affecting maternal healthcare, vaccination campaigns, radiotherapy and haemodialysis treatments due to unstable energy supplies and recurring electricity shortages.
He described the sanctions regime as collective punishment aimed at generating social discontent and destabilising the Cuban government, calling it a violation of international law and state sovereignty principles.
Despite mounting pressure, the ambassador said Cuba continued to rely on internal mobilisation, healthcare personnel and locally developed solutions to sustain critical services. He linked the country’s response to Cuba’s historical tradition of resistance, referencing the Bay of Pigs victory as a symbol of national resilience against external aggression.
Calling on governments to reject unilateral U.S. pressure, Igarza urged states to defend their sovereign right to maintain economic relations with Cuba and warned against the increasingly dangerous military rhetoric from Washington.
Responding to questions regarding limited international media coverage of the embargo, Igarza — himself a former journalist — said direct and indirect pressures discouraged broader reporting on the humanitarian consequences of the sanctions regime.
Asked whether Cuba depended on external assistance from countries such as China or Russia, the ambassador said the country “counts on itself,” stressing that broad domestic mobilisation continued behind the Cuban leadership despite external pressure.
He added that Cuba was prepared to confront all possible scenarios, including military escalation, stating that any aggression would meet resistance comparable to the Cuban response during the Bay of Pigs invasion.
— 𝐄𝐍𝐃 —
Dzair Tube Media Group | Record and Standing
Dzair Tube is a leading Algerian digital journalism platform, delivering high-quality content in Arabic, French, and English. With a daily readership exceeding 500,000, it has established itself among the country’s most influential media organizations.
Recognized for editorial excellence and integrity, Dzair Tube was awarded the President of the Republic’s Prize for Professional Journalist in the Electronic Press category on 22 October 2022. The platform operates from state-of-the-art studios, producing diverse programming across news, sports, culture, entertainment, and religion.
Dzair Tube maintains a robust digital presence, with over 600,000 YouTube subscribers, six million followers across Facebook pages, and more than 70,000 Instagram followers. Its sports daily, Dzair Sport, enjoys over 50,000 daily downloads via its official website, cementing its leadership in multimedia journalism.
Further recognized with the Media Leadership Award by former Minister of Communication Mohamed Laâgab and celebrated at the Hilals of Television awards, Dzair Tube continues to set benchmarks in innovation, influence, and public engagement, serving as a key forum for civic discourse, critical analysis, and public affairs.
Official website: www.dzair-tube.dz | English: www.dzair-tube.dz/en
