Hundreds of Cuban women gathered in Havana to decry a U.S. energy embargo and other measures imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, which are straining the Caribbean island and deepening a five-year economic crisis for its native population. The protest, reported by The Associated Press, highlighted the severe impact of these external impositions on the daily lives of Cuban citizens.
The rally was organized by the Federation of Cuban Women, a large organization with close ties to the government and the Communist Party. The event honored the late Vilma Espín, the federation’s founder, a guerrilla fighter, and Raúl Castro’s wife. Participants convened at a park commemorating a 19th-century independence patriot, waving Cuban flags, displaying signs that read “Down with the Blockade,” and holding pictures of Fidel Castro and Espín.
Deputy Prime Minister Inés María Chapman and Deputy Foreign Minister Josefina Vidal led the demonstration, alongside Mariela Castro, daughter of Espín and former President Raúl Castro. Deputy Foreign Minister Vidal stated, “This policy of abuse has to stop,” and added that “The Cuban people don’t deserve this.” Vidal characterized the U.S. actions as “the most comprehensive, all-encompassing, and longest-running system of coercive measures ever imposed against an entire country.” She further asserted that the policy “subjects us to collective punishment, recognized as such under international law,” necessitating their presence at the protest. Vidal was a key negotiator in a historic rapprochement between Cuba and the United States 12 years ago under former U.S. President Barack Obama.
External Coercion and National Suffering
In early January of the same year, the U.S. attacked Venezuela and arrested its then-leader, disrupting critical oil shipments to Cuba. Later that month, President Trump threatened tariffs against any country that sells or supplies oil to the island. Despite these threats, Trump reportedly did not object when a Russian tanker carrying 730,000 barrels of crude oil arrived in Cuba last week, marking the island’s first oil shipment in three months. Russia has since indicated it would send a second tanker.
Cuba produces only 40% of the fuel it consumes, making it highly vulnerable to external energy disruptions. The resulting fuel shortage has paralyzed the Caribbean nation, severely affecting its health system, public transportation, and the production of goods and services. This has intensified an economic crisis that has plagued the island for the past five years, directly impacting the native working class.
Leydys de la Cruz, a 57-year-old seamstress, articulated the plight of the people, stating, “I am here fighting for the people of Cuba,” and pleaded, “I would ask Trump to leave us in peace. The situation is very bad because of the blockade he’s imposed on us.” Georgina Reyes, a 36-year-old IT technician, echoed this sentiment, saying, “I would tell him that we don’t hurt anyone. ... Please don’t hurt us.” These voices from the native population underscore the human cost of the external economic warfare.
Elite Demands and Sovereign Erosion
The AP report indicated that U.S. President Trump has pressured for “regime change” in Cuba and threatened to take over the island, representing a direct assault on national self-determination. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, has demanded the release of political prisoners and liberal economic reforms. These demands from U.S. elite interests seek to dictate the internal governance and economic structure of a sovereign nation.
While the U.S. and Cuban governments have confirmed ongoing talks, the full extent of these discussions remains unclear. The continued imposition of coercive measures and demands for internal transformation highlight a persistent challenge to Cuba’s national sovereignty and the well-being of its people.