The Cuban government sent a message of confrontation and, at the same time, of openness from the UN this Monday.
Before the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez warned in his statement that the island will “defend with the utmost vigor and courage” its sovereignty against what he described as a deliberate attempt at economic suffocation by Washington.
Nevertheless, he assured that there is also a "willingness for dialogue with the United States" under specific conditions.
At the most emphatic moment of his speech, Rodríguez declared:
“The Cuban people will defend with the utmost vigor and courage, in close unity and broad consensus, their right to self-determination, independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and constitutional order.”
The warning came after denouncing the executive order signed on January 29 by the U.S. president, which—according to Havana—aims to provoke an energy crisis by threatening tariffs on countries that export oil to Cuba.
"The executive order from January 29th of this year by the President of the United States declares collective punishment against the Cuban people and aims to create a humanitarian catastrophe through the energy blockade," the chancellor pointed out.
Rodríguez took the accusation to its extreme by asking:
"Can a great power afford to attempt to destroy a small peaceful nation, provoke a humanitarian tragedy, tear apart its national culture, and subject a noble and supportive people to genocide under the crude pretext of national security?"
Although he acknowledged that the situation will entail costs for the population, he emphasized that the country will endure.
"We will prevent a humanitarian crisis in Cuba, even though we will experience hardships and suffering," he added.
"Even in the worst-case scenario, we will persevere, we will find creative solutions in the face of all difficulties, and we will mitigate humanitarian harm," he emphasized.
"We produce almost half of the crude oil that we consume, we have refining capacity, and we are making significant and efficient investments in solar energy."
And he appealed to the historical narrative of resistance: "Through suffering, three generations of Cubans have overcome the United States blockade for more than sixty years."
The Contrast: Dialogue "Without Preconditions"
However, beneath the tone of denunciation and firmness, the chancellor left a diplomatic door open.
"We will also be open to dialogue with the United States based on sovereign equality and international law, mutual respect, reciprocal benefit, without preconditions or interference in internal affairs,” he said.
He emphasized that this dialogue should aim to: “Achieve a civilized relationship within our differences and even promote cooperation in areas where it is possible.” The statement combines a warning and a condition: Cuba claims to be willing to converse, but only within a framework of "sovereign equality" and without accepting political demands.
A narrative of global confrontation
He referred to a scenario characterized by the modernization of nuclear arsenals, the integration of emerging technologies into weapon systems, "aggressive militaristic rhetoric," and the increase in military spending "to the detriment of Official Development Assistance."
Rodríguez framed the conflict within a broader critique of the role of the United States in the international arena.
"A dictatorship has emerged in the globalized world," he stated at the beginning of his speech, emphasizing that "the order established after the Second World War to prevent a third is being destroyed."
"It proclaims the philosophy of dispossession as the exceptional and supreme right of the United States of America to conquest and the use of force," he criticized.
He also questioned the use of "tariffs as an instrument of aggression" and the "extraterritorial application of laws and the jurisdiction of U.S. courts."
In that context, he stated that "all nation-states are in danger" and expressed support for the protests in the United States by saying: "We admire the people of Minnesota in their community resistance."
A dual-track discourse
The Cuban message at the UN combined warnings of resistance against what it describes as economic aggression with an offer for dialogue under strict conditions.
Havana insists that Washington is trying to provoke a humanitarian collapse through energy pressure, while maintaining that it is willing to engage in conversation if its terms are respected.
In practice, the scenario continues to be characterized by public tensions, rhetorical exchanges, and limited contacts in technical areas, with no clear signs of comprehensive normalization.
Meanwhile, the Cuban government is preparing the population for the indefinite extension of a period of "deprivations and suffering," while promising to find "creative solutions" to prevent a greater crisis.
Filed under: