Mexico, Spain, Brazil Support Cuba’s Sovereignty

Mexico, Spain, and Brazil have jointly called for the protection of Cuba’s sovereignty amid intensified US pressure. The three nations pledged increased humanitarian aid to Cuba, emphasising that the Cuban people must decide their own future freely. This statement was issued during a meeting of leftist leaders in Barcelona.

US-Cuba Relations and Embargo

• The US has maintained a trade embargo on Cuba since the 1960s, rooted in Cold War tensions.
• Under the Trump administration, sanctions intensified, including banning Venezuelan oil imports to Cuba and threatening sanctions on countries supplying Cuba with oil.
• These measures have caused fuel shortages and energy blackouts in Cuba.
• The US has also pressured for regime change, with threats against Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel.

International Law and Sovereignty

• The joint statement by Mexico, Spain, and Brazil referenced principles from the United Nations Charter, including territorial integrity, sovereign equality, and peaceful dispute resolution.
• They warned against actions violating international law and stressed that Cuba’s future must be decided by its own people.
• The countries committed to coordinating humanitarian aid to alleviate Cuba’s crisis.

Context of Regional and Global Politics

• The US campaign against Cuba parallels pressure tactics used against Venezuela’s former President Nicolas Maduro.
• President Diaz-Canel reaffirmed Cuba’s readiness to confront threats, including potential military aggression.
• Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez criticised right-wing populism and defended multilateralism during the Barcelona meeting.
• US President Trump criticised Spain for its defence spending and refusal to allow US military base use amid the US-Israel conflict with Iran.

The US embargo on Cuba is one of the longest-standing trade sanctions globally. Cuba’s political system is based on socialist principles established after the 1959 revolution led by Fidel Castro. The United Nations has repeatedly called for the end of the US embargo on Cuba.