Geneva, Switzerland, June 29, 2026. Speaking today before the UNCTAD Committee on Trade and Development, Cuban Ambassador Rodolfo Benítez Verson denounced the economic blockade imposed by the United States, intensified by a brutal fuel embargo, as a flagrant violation of the norms governing the multilateral trading system, in addition to severely harming the Cuban people.
He warned that Cuba faces an extraordinarily complex and challenging situation as a result of the increasingly aggressive and ruthless unilateral measures taken by the United States.
He denounced that these measures prevent Cuba from accessing sources of financing, investment capital, remittances, and technology for industry, food production, infrastructure, scientific development, and services, including the most critical, such as healthcare. He explained that the country is being deprived, in every corner of the world, of the use of banking systems for making payments and collections, which increases the cost of every medicine, every food item, every part, and every technology the country needs.
He emphasized that Cuba has the full right to trade fuel with any country, without obstacles contrary to the freedom of international trade. Likewise, any country has the right to export fuel to Cuba and to develop trade relations freely, without interference.
He reported that, in addition to the brutal energy blockade, since May 1st, secondary sanctions of a distinctly extraterritorial nature have been applied against entities in third countries that operate or have operated with Cuba.
He stressed that, as a sovereign nation, Cuba has the willingness and capacity to develop economic and trade relations with any country, and that international trade should develop in this way, without the government of a powerful nation having the prerogative to dictate how and with which nations another state can conduct its foreign trade.
“Through intimidation and blackmail, the United States government seeks to force all nations to participate, against their will, in its criminal policies against Cuba, universally condemned at the UN,” stated Benítez Verson.
The Cuban representative requested UNCTAD’s support in confronting this unacceptable situation. “It is urgent that we act together, above political differences, to prevent the abuses that violate the rights of all states. Permissiveness and weakness only embolden the aggressors,” concluded the Cuban ambassador.