Cuba accused the United States at the UN of enforcing an "oil blockade" and of actions that have worsened a humanitarian emergency affecting 9.4 million people. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez said more than 7,000 containers with food and medical supplies are stranded abroad and that foreign investors are being pressured to leave. President Donald Trump said a deal with Cuba could be possible and suggested military action would not be needed, even as Washington seeks a political shift in Havana.
Cuba Condemns US 'Oil Blockade' at UN, Warns Military Threat Persists as Shipments Stall
ILLUSTRATION - The United Nations logo at the UN building in New York. (is associated with: «Cuba condemns US oil blockade and threat of military force») Soeren Stache/dpa
Cuba sharply criticized recent US policy toward the island during the UN General Debate, with Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez accusing Washington of imposing an "oil blockade" and applying pressure on companies and governments that contract with Cuba — actions he says have produced severe humanitarian consequences for the population.
Rodríguez told the UN that the continued threat of military force against Cuba violates international law and reiterated Havana’s willingness to engage in dialogue with the United States. He said a new wave of sanctions in recent months has deepened the island’s long-running economic and energy crises, intensifying an ongoing humanitarian emergency in the Caribbean nation of about 9.4 million people.
According to Rodríguez, tighter US policy and successive pressure measures have left more than 7,000 containers carrying food, medicines and medical equipment stranded in foreign ports, preventing essential supplies from reaching Cuban communities. He cited reporting by The New York Times and warned that foreign firms are being pressured or intimidated into abandoning investments and commercial operations in Cuba.
Just before the speech, US President Donald Trump said in Washington that he believed the United States and Cuba could reach an agreement. "I would say that Cuba and us will make a deal. I don't think we'll need the military," he said, adding: "We want to help Cuba."
Rodríguez also accused Washington of seeking an economic and political reorientation in Havana — including distancing Cuba from partners such as China and Russia — framed by the US as a national security objective. Havana says these demands, combined with sanctions and commercial pressure, are exacerbating shortages and harming ordinary Cubans.
What’s next: The exchange highlights persistent tensions between the two countries and competing narratives: Havana describes measures as an unlawful blockade causing humanitarian harm, while Washington frames pressure as a means to induce political change. Diplomacy remains possible, Rodríguez said, but the humanitarian impacts of the sanctions and disrupted shipments remain urgent concerns.
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