Cuba’s Ministry of Overseas Affairs has issued a press release of protest towards the pinnacle of the USA mission to the island, Michael Hammer.
In a news release printed on Friday, the Overseas Ministry accused Hammer, a profession diplomat, of “unfriendly and meddling behaviour” since his arrival in Cuba in late 2024.
“By inciting Cuban residents to commit extraordinarily severe prison acts, attacking the constitutional order, or encouraging them to behave towards the authorities or show in assist of the pursuits and aims of a hostile international energy, the diplomat is participating in provocative and irresponsible conduct,” the Overseas Ministry wrote.
“The immunity he enjoys as a consultant of his nation can’t be used as cowl for acts opposite to the sovereignty and inner order of the nation to which he’s assigned, on this case, Cuba.”
The Overseas Ministry mentioned the message was delivered by its director of bilateral affairs with the US, Alejandro Garcia del Toro.
Friday’s assertion is the newest indication of more and more rocky relations between Cuba and the US, significantly since President Donald Trump started his second time period in January.
A historical past of tensions
Diplomatic ties between the 2 international locations, nevertheless, have been icy for many years, stretching again to the Chilly Warfare within the Nineteen Sixties. After the Cuban Revolution of 1959, the US authorities imposed strict commerce restrictions on the island and backed efforts to topple the newly established Communist authorities.
However there have been efforts to ease the tensions, notably through the administrations of Democratic presidents like Barack Obama and Joe Biden within the US.
In 2016, for example, Obama sought to normalise relations with Cuba, solely to see these efforts rolled again through the first Trump administration, beginning in 2017.
Likewise, President Biden – who previously served as Obama’s vp – eliminated Cuba from the US’s record of “state sponsors of terrorism” within the waning days of his time period in January.
However upon taking workplace for his second time on January 20, Trump reversed course as soon as extra, placing Cuba again on the record that exact same day.
Trump additionally included in his presidential cupboard a number of officers who’ve taken a hardline stance in direction of Cuba, most notably former Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Born to Cuban immigrants, Rubio is an outspoken supporter of continuous the commerce embargo towards the island.
The Cuban authorities, in the meantime, has continued to accuse the US of making an attempt to destabilise its management.
In Friday’s assertion, the Cuban Overseas Ministry accused Hammer of “public and insulting manipulation” for his current go to to the tomb of a Nineteenth-century nationwide hero, Jose Marti.
The US Embassy to Cuba posted a video of the go to with a voiceover of Marti’s phrases, “Respect for the liberty and ideas of others, even of probably the most sad form, is my ardour: If I die or am killed, it will likely be for that.” Critics have interpreted that quotation as an implied endorsement of dissent on the island.
Ramping up stress
In current months, there have additionally been indicators that Trump plans to as soon as once more tighten the screws on the Cuban authorities, in a return to the “most stress” campaigns that typified international coverage throughout his first time period.
In February, for example, the Trump administration introduced it could yank visas from anybody who works with Cuba’s medical system, which sends hundreds of healthcare staff overseas annually, significantly within the Caribbean area.
Critics have criticised the healthcare programme for its low pay and hefty restrictions on its staff. Trump and Rubio, in the meantime, have claimed the medical system quantities to a type of “forced labour” that enriches the Cuban authorities. However leaders in Havana have denied that allegation.
Then, in April, the US authorities condemned Cuba for re-arresting a group of dissidents, amongst them distinguished figures like Jose Daniel Ferrer and Felix Navarro.
Cuba had initially agreed to launch Ferrer and Navarro as a part of a bargain brokered by the Vatican earlier this yr.
Cuba was anticipated to launch 553 prisoners, lots of whom had been swept up in antigovernment protests, and in change, the US was purported to ease its sanctions towards the island. The sanctions reduction, nevertheless, by no means got here.
A further measure was taken towards Cuba simply this month. The Division of State, underneath Rubio’s course, decided that “Cuba didn’t absolutely cooperate with US counterterrorism efforts in 2024”. It accused Cuba of harbouring 11 fugitives, a few of whom confronted terrorism-related costs within the US.
“The Cuban regime made clear it was not prepared to debate their return to face justice in our nation,” the State Division wrote in a news release. “The US will proceed to advertise worldwide cooperation on counterterrorism points. We additionally proceed to advertise accountability for international locations that don’t stand towards terrorism.”
As punishment, Cuba was labelled as a “not absolutely cooperating nation” underneath the Arms Export Management Act, a designation that limits its means to purchase weaponry and different defence instruments from the US.
Moreover, Hammer had not too long ago signalled that new sanctions had been on the way in which for the island.
However within the face of Friday’s reprimand, the State Division indicated it was undeterred and would proceed to assist dissidents towards Cuba’s “malign affect”.
