New escalation in US policy towards Cuba
In a move aimed at tightening the economic noose around Cuba, former US President Donald Trump signed an executive order threatening additional tariffs on any country that sells or supplies Havana with oil. The decree explicitly states that the United States may impose punitive tariffs on imports of goods from any foreign country that “directly or indirectly sells or supplies Cuba with petroleum,” representing a significant escalation in his administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign against the Cuban government.
Historical background of US sanctions against Cuba
This move comes against the backdrop of a long history of tension between the United States and Cuba, dating back more than six decades. Since the Cuban Revolution in 1959, Washington has imposed a comprehensive economic and trade embargo aimed at isolating and weakening the communist regime. The severity of this embargo has varied from one administration to the next; while the Obama administration saw a historic thaw and the restoration of diplomatic relations, the Trump administration reversed those steps and reimposed strict restrictions, targeting vital sectors of the Cuban economy such as tourism, remittances, and now, directly, the energy sector.
The importance and expected impact of the decision
This decision is of paramount strategic importance, as it targets the lifeblood of the Cuban economy, which is heavily reliant on imported oil for electricity generation, transportation, and manufacturing. The decision is expected to have profound repercussions on several levels:
- At the local Cuban level: The shortage of oil supplies could exacerbate the economic and living crises within Cuba, potentially causing frequent power outages and transportation crises, and increasing the suffering of the Cuban people.
- At the regional level, the decision indirectly targets Cuba's allies in the region, most notably Venezuela, which has been Cuba's main oil supplier for many years. While Venezuela's oil production has declined, this measure further isolates both countries and complicates any attempt at economic cooperation between them.
- At the international level, this measure puts other countries that trade with Cuba in a difficult position, forcing them to choose between maintaining relations with Cuba or facing punitive US tariffs. This could spark trade and diplomatic disputes with US partners and reinforce criticism of US policies that extend beyond national borders.
In conclusion, this executive order represents a powerful pressure tool aimed at strangling the Cuban economy and pushing its international allies to abandon it, reflecting a comprehensive strategy to isolate Havana on the international stage.
