According to Reuters, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez made it clear at a press conference in Havana on September 7 that the 'genocidal' blockade imposed by the United States on Cuba has caused this island nation more than $8 billion in economic losses over the past year. He also emphasized that there are currently no negotiations between Cuba and the United States, nor any plans for future discussions. Although both sides still wish to maintain contact, there has been no progress in substantive dialogue.
Rodriguez pointed out that the trade embargo imposed on Cuba by the United States for decades caused a 7% increase in losses in 2025, reaching $8.1 billion. He further warned that due to the oil embargo imposed by the Trump administration on Cuba, economic losses in Cuba would increase significantly in the first few months of 2026—this measure almost led to a zero production of local oil in Cuba and caused widespread power outages across the country for several days.
Lockdown was not targeting the government, but rather punishing every single person on the island in various ways, Rodriguez said. “People had to endure a prolonged period of time, with only two or three hours of electricity at most per day, food quickly decaying, insomnia due to heat, and children having to complete their assignments in almost complete darkness.”
The United States Department of State did not immediately respond to requests for comments on Rodriguez's remarks.
In recent years, the United Nations has repeatedly condemned the United States for violating international law with its sanctions against Cuba. In August this year, several UN experts also warned that the ongoing tightening of energy embargoes is exacerbating the crisis in Cuba’s public health and infrastructure.
