US sanctions on Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua face bipartisan criticism

Analysts note that despite harsh partisan rhetoric, both Democrats and Republicans in Washington share a consensus to maintain US hemispheric dominance through economic coercion. The United States has long used sanctions—from Roosevelt’s 1930s measures against Mexico to recent draconian restrictions on Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua—as a tool of foreign policy, with roughly one‑third of the world’s nations currently under such measures.

The commentary highlights that sanctions cause severe humanitarian damage, estimating around 560,000 deaths annually worldwide between 2010 and 2021, far exceeding casualties from direct armed conflict. Critics argue that sanctions rarely achieve intended regime‑change outcomes and disproportionately harm the poorest segments of targeted societies. Recent statements from Cuban President Díaz‑Canel describe the island as “besieged,” while Democratic critics focus on the execution of policy rather than its legitimacy.

The piece underscores that the bipartisan acceptance of sanctions persists despite legal experts labeling them collective punishment and contrary to international law, raising questions about their effectiveness and moral cost.