Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has launched a fierce verbal assault on United States policy, accusing Washington of committing “genocide” and attempting to orchestrate a total “takeover” of the Caribbean nation.
Addressing a gathering in the central city of Sancti Spíritus on Sunday, the president marked National Rebellion Day, the 73rd anniversary of the historic 1953 attack on the Moncada Barracks.
During his speech, he alleged that the persistent US economic blockade is a deliberate strategy designed to incite social unrest and force the eventual collapse of the Cuban government.
A primary point of contention highlighted by Díaz-Canel was Cuba’s continued inclusion on the US list of state sponsors of terrorism. The president described this designation as both “cynical” and “malicious,” noting that it severely restricts the country’s ability to access international banking and conduct essential financial transactions, reports Al Jazeera.
The US blockade has remained in place for more than six decades, with sanctions intensifying significantly in recent years under both the Trump and Biden administrations.
This sustained economic pressure has contributed to a dire internal situation, characterised by chronic shortages of food, fuel, and medicine, alongside rampant inflation.
The resulting humanitarian crisis has triggered a record-breaking migration wave, as tens of thousands of Cubans flee the island to seek better conditions in the United States.
While the United Nations General Assembly has consistently and overwhelmingly voted in favour of resolutions demanding an end to the embargo, Washington has maintained its position.
US officials argue that the sanctions are a necessary tool to pressure the Havana administration into implementing democratic reforms and addressing concerns regarding its human rights record.
