The Deputy Director General for the United States at Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX), Johana Tablada de la Torre, concluded her working visit to Washington, D.C., by thanking friends and solidarity organizations with Cuba who invited her to a discussion on Cuba-U.S. relations.
Tablada highlighted the deceptive and harmful direction that U.S. policy toward Cuba has taken, as well as the falsehoods spread by high-ranking U.S. government officials and Cuban-American legislators to justify new extreme and inhumane measures against Cuba. She stated that the goal of this escalation is to worsen shortages in order to destabilize and dominate the island.
The official warned about ongoing plans to suffocate Cuba’s economy, sever ties between the two countries, and artificially create pretexts to push for a break in diplomatic relations, leading to dangerous and irresponsible scenarios of confrontation. She recalled that these extreme approaches and actions—aimed at harming the income and human rights of the Cuban people—could also stimulate irregular migration, as has happened before under similar hostile policies.
Johana explained that since January 20, the administration of President Donald Trump has implemented more than a dozen measures tightening the economic war, damaging the well-being and livelihood of Cubans, dividing families, and increasing extraterritorial pressures on third-country governments and entities. She noted that most of these actions have been carried out with deliberate opacity to prevent public awareness of their true humanitarian impact and the unjust escalation of aggression against Cuba.
Tablada denounced that these efforts to worsen bilateral relations and the living conditions of Cubans are accompanied by interference programs in Cuba’s internal affairs, as well as systematic, well-funded disinformation campaigns aimed at blaming Cuba for the damage caused by the U.S. blockade and additional economic warfare measures.
Despite Washington’s hostility, Tablada reiterated Cuba’s willingness to develop better relations with the U.S., engage in respectful dialogue on issues of mutual interest, and affirmed that—even if this does not happen—Cubans will defend the Revolution and its achievements, continue advancing their social justice project, and once again overcome aggression.
The meeting served as a platform to denounce the real impact of the blockade and additional measures reinforcing the U.S. government’s unjust siege against Cuba, as well as the harm this abusive policy inflicts on the Cuban people, including its effects on migration.
Attendees asked questions and highlighted Cuba’s tradition of solidarity and humanism, particularly its training of healthcare professionals and the work of medical brigades—now also targeted by the U.S.—which have assisted vulnerable populations in over 160 countries while also contributing to Cuba’s public health system.
At the end of the event, a spontaneous chant of "Cuba sí, bloqueo no" ("Yes to Cuba, No to the Blockade") reflected the affection and determination of those present to promote better relations and an end to the U.S. policy of abuse against the Cuban people.