Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla stated that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is lying when he claims there is no oil blockade against Cuba.
“A few hours ago, the Secretary of State claimed that there is no oil blockade against Cuba. He has simply chosen to lie. He is contradicting the President and the White House Press Secretary.”
The Cuban foreign minister asserted that the reality is undeniable, arguing that “on January 29, 2026, the President signed an Executive Order threatening all countries with tariffs if they export fuel to Cuba.”
Bruno Rodríguez noted that in four months, only one fuel shipment has arrived in Cuba, saying that “all our suppliers are being intimidated and threatened in violation of free trade and freedom of navigation.”
The new Executive Order of May 1, imposed by the United States, establishes secondary sanctions in the energy sector.
“The Secretary is well aware of the damage and suffering that the criminal oil embargo, which he himself proposed to his President, is causing the Cuban people today.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied on Tuesday that his country has imposed an oil embargo on Cuba, amid a psychological and economic war against the Cuban people, arguing that “regarding Cuba [and the] oil embargo against Cuba: there is no oil embargo against Cuba ‘per se’.”
Rubio added that “the only blockade that has occurred is the one the Cubans have decided,” adding that “I mean, the Venezuelans have decided that we will no longer give them free oil.”
Between March 2023 and February 2024, the blockade caused damages exceeding $5 billion. The impacts include the blockade of fuel, machinery, and raw material imports.
One of the reports presented by Cuba regarding the blockade alleges that two months of the blockade are equivalent to the cost of the fuel needed to meet the country’s normal electricity demand ($1.6 billion).
The document also states that two days of the US blockade are equivalent to the annual maintenance cost of public transportation in the country ($40 million), while ten minutes represent the funding needed to cover the demand for hearing aids for children and adolescents with disabilities attending special education programs in the country. ($142,966.82).
From March 1, 2024, to February 28, 2025 alone, the blockade caused material damages to Cuba estimated at $7,556.1 million.
IMAGE CREDIT: Bruno Rodríguez stated that in four months, only one fuel tanker has arrived in Cuba, alleging that “all our suppliers are being intimidated and threatened in violation of free trade and freedom of navigation.” Photo: @BrunoRguezP
[ SOURCE: teleSUR ]
