Vienna, February 19. The Socialist Youth of Austria (Sozialistische Jugend, SJ), Vienna chapter, issued a strong statement condemning the intensification of the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba, with special emphasis on recent measures that hinder oil supplies to the island.
This statement is the first by this youth organization following the Executive Order signed by US President Donald Trump on January 29, which reinforces the siege against the Caribbean nation. With this statement, the SJ-Vienna joins the voices of condemnation coming from various Austrian organizations, including other youth groups such as the KJÖ (Communist Youth of Austria) and the Jugendfront (Youth Front).
In its statement, the organization denounces that since the beginning of the year, fuel shipments to the island have almost completely stopped, causing a massive shortage that seriously affects public transportation, production, garbage collection, hospitals, and drinking water systems. The statement emphasizes that these consequences are deliberately accepted by the United States to generate political pressure and force a change of system in Cuba, which is being punished for maintaining a socialist model. SJ-Vienna interprets these measures as a new escalation of US imperialism in Latin America.
SJ-Vienna calls for actions of denunciation and solidarity to demand an immediate end to the measures that are economically suffocating Cuba.
The Socialist Youth is described as the largest youth organization in Austria. Founded in 1894, its core themes include anti-fascism, anti-capitalism, war and peace, and international solidarity, principles that motivate this position of active solidarity with the Cuban people.
(EmbaCubaAustria)