Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez denounces US fuel blockade claims

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla publicly condemned U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s assertion that there is no oil blockade on Cuba. Rodríguez wrote on X that Rubio “lies chronically” and contradicts the White House, describing the United States’ actions as a “total fuel blockade.”

Rodríguez said the U.S. policy restricts Cuba’s access to fuel, parts and technology for its thermoelectric plants, and targets the state oil company CUPET. He added that sanctions also affect nickel, tourism and mining firms, and that foreign visitors to Cuba are denied ESTA visas. The minister accused Washington of pressuring countries that maintain health‑cooperation agreements with Havana and of seeking to undermine Cuba’s constitutional order. An executive order signed by former President Trump on Jan. 29 authorizes tariffs on nations exporting fuel to Cuba. In 2026 Cuba received a single 100,000‑ton shipment of crude oil from Russia.