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The President of the United States, Donald Trump, extended the national emergency regarding Cuba for another year and the authority that allows for the regulation of the funding and movement of vessels, including the possibility of detaining and inspecting American and foreign ships heading to the island.
The decision was formalized on February 13, according to a notice published by the White House, which details the "Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Cuba and of the Emergency Authority Relating to the Regulation of the Funding and Movement of Vessels."
"The Cuban government has not shown that it will refrain from the excessive use of force against vessels or aircraft from the United States that may participate in commemorative activities or peaceful protests north of Cuba," the White House points out as one of the central arguments for maintaining the state of emergency.
The text also emphasizes that "the unauthorized entry of any vessel registered in the United States into Cuban territorial waters remains detrimental to U.S. foreign policy, as it could facilitate mass migration from Cuba."
According to the official stance, "a massive migration from Cuba would jeopardize U.S. national security by representing a disruption or threat of disruption to its international relations."
As a result, the president indicated that, in accordance with the National Emergency Act, the national emergency concerning Cuba must continue along with the emergency authority related to the regulation of anchoring and movement of ships.
The official document notes that the national emergency was initially declared on March 1, 1996, through Proclamation 6867, following the destruction on February 24 of that year, by the Cuban government, of two unarmed civilian aircraft registered in the United States in international airspace (the aircraft of Brothers to the Rescue).
Subsequently, the measure was expanded in 2004 to "deny monetary and material support to the Cuban government," and was modified in 2016 and 2018, due to the persistence of what Washington considers disruptions in its international relations linked to the Island.
Why did Trump sign a national emergency order?
On January 29th, Trump signed an executive order declaring a national emergency on the grounds that the policies and actions of the Government of Cuba represent "an unusual and extraordinary threat" to the national security and foreign policy of his country.
The order, issued from the White House and effective starting January 30, argued that the Cuban regime "aligns itself with numerous hostile countries, transnational terrorist groups, and malign actors opposed to the United States, including Russia, China, Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah."
According to the document, Cuba "harbors dangerous adversaries" and allows the establishment of "military capabilities and intelligence that directly threaten the national security" of the United States.
The text states that Cuba "maintains the largest Russian intelligence base outside of that country" and that it "continues to build deep cooperation in defense and intelligence with the People's Republic of China."
Furthermore, the executive order denounces that the Cuban regime supports terrorism, destabilizes the region through migration and violence, and commits human rights violations against its opponents, restricting freedom of expression, worship, and the press.
"We will act to protect foreign policy, national security, and the interests of the United States, while remaining committed to the aspirations of the Cuban people for a free and democratic society," the document states.
The order also established a of products from countries that sell or supply oil to Cuba, whether directly or indirectly.
Trump: "Cuba is a humanitarian threat."
This week, Trump stated that Cuba faces a "humanitarian threat" and argued that the Island's Government should reach an agreement with the United States amid the deep energy crisis it is experiencing.
During a press exchange aboard Air Force One en route to Joint Base Andrews this Monday, Trump stated that conversations are currently ongoing with Havana.
"Cuba is currently a failed nation and they don't even have fuel for the planes to take off," he stated, adding that "they should absolutely make an agreement because it poses a humanitarian threat."
The president recalled that the embargo is still in effect and emphasized that the Caribbean nation faces restrictions on access to oil and financing.
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