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The Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez expressed his support for the president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, following the announcement of the total oil blockade imposed by the president of the United States, Donald Trump, against the South American country.
In a message posted on social media, Díaz-Canel wrote: “Our vigorous rejection of the U.S. government's naval blockade against Venezuela. We firmly support President Nicolás Maduro, the Bolivarian and Chavista Revolution, and its Popular-Military Union. Our full backing for the statement issued by the Venezuelan government.” The text was accompanied by the official statement released by the Venezuelan government.
The statement from the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, dated in Caracas, rejects what it describes as a "grotesque threat from Mr. Trump" and asserts that the U.S. announcement violates International Law, free trade, and free navigation. The document argues that the president of the United States "intends to impose an absolutely irrational supposed naval military blockade on Venezuela with the aim of stealing the riches that belong to our Homeland."
The text adds that Venezuela will report the case to the United Nations and calls on "the people of the U.S. and the peoples of the world to reject this threat." It also cites a statement attributed to Trump in which the president allegedly said: "until they return to the U.S. all the oil, land, and other assets that they stole from us before."
On his part, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla posted a message on the same network where he stated: "We reject the naval blockade against Venezuela announced by the #US government, in a serious violation of International Law and an escalation of the aggression against the Bolivarian government. Our total and unwavering support for the constitutional president Nicolás Maduro, the Bolivarian and Chavista Revolution, and its People's-Military Union."
The president Donald Trump announced a total oil blockade against Venezuela and a tightening of deportations, accusing Nicolás Maduro's government of using energy resources to “finance criminal activities” and “narcoterrorism, human trafficking, murder, and kidnapping.”
Trump stated that Venezuela is "completely surrounded" by U.S. military forces and warned that the measures will continue "until the country returns all the oil, land, and other assets" that, he claimed, were "stolen previously."
In his message, the leader described the Venezuelan government as an "illegitimate regime" and labeled it as a "foreign terrorist organization." The announcement also included a tightening of immigration policy, emphasizing the expedited deportation of Venezuelan immigrants.
Days before the U.S. announcement, the Cuban government acknowledged that the oil transported by the vessel seized by the United States in the Caribbean was destined for Cuba, following claims that the operation hampers “the supply of hydrocarbons to the Island.” The admission was made in statements by Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez and in a note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX), where the action was described as an “act of piracy and maritime terrorism.”
According to information about the seizure, U.S. authorities confirmed that the vessel was carrying sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran and that the cargo was intended for the Cuban energy system, which is suffering from a severe supply crisis.
The Cuban regime blamed Washington for worsening the situation and for implementing a pressure policy against the shipment of Venezuelan crude oil to the Island.
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