UN human rights experts today condemned the executive order issued by the US president on January 29, 2026, which declares a supposed national emergency and authorizes the imposition of trade tariffs on oil imports from third countries to Cuba.
“The U.S. executive order imposing a fuel blockade on Cuba is a serious violation of international law and a grave threat to a democratic and equitable international order,” the experts stated.
The experts also stressed that characterising Cuba as an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to the national security of the United States and accusing the country of supporting “transnational terrorist groups” lacks credibility and appears designed to justify the use of extraordinary and coercive powers. “In the absence of authorisation from the United Nations Security Council, the executive order has no basis in collective security and constitutes a unilateral act that is incompatible with international law,” they said.
They warned that the U.S. executive order directly violates the principles of sovereign equality, non-intervention and self-determination, which are essential pillars of a democratic and equitable international order as reflected in the UN Charter Article 2(1). They also circumvent multilateral frameworks governing international trade and security, including the World Trade Organization.
They expressed deep concern about the foreseeable humanitarian consequences of restricting fuel supplies to Cuba through the coercion of third States. “Cuba is already experiencing severe energy shortages, due to previous U.S. sanctions, with blackouts lasting up to 20 hours in many areas, affecting refrigeration for food and medication, and contributing to public health crises.”
The experts called on the U.S. Government to immediately rescind the executive order and cease the use of extraterritorial economic measures, bringing its conduct in line with international law. The executive order compounds the effects of the U.S. existing unlawful designation of Cuba as a “State Sponsor of Terrorism”.
Read the full article: https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/02/un-experts-condemn-us-e…
(Cubaminrex)