In a recent session at the United Nations Security Council, Cuban Ambassador Ernesto Soberón Guzmán took the floor to criticize the maritime and energy restrictions imposed by the United States on Cuba. This marks the latest effort by the Cuban government to rally international support against U.S. policies.
Ambassador Soberón Guzmán highlighted the detrimental effects of U.S. policies that limit Cuban maritime trade, particularly those preventing fuel supplies from reaching the island.
"These coercive and extraterritorial measures aim to escalate economic pressure on our nation, adversely affecting not just Cuba but also third-party states and businesses," asserted the ambassador.
Furthermore, he condemned what he described as acts of piracy and terrorism against oil tankers and their crews in the Caribbean Sea, stating that these acts violate international law and the principle of freedom of navigation.
The Backdrop of U.S.-Cuba Maritime Tensions
The Cuban complaint is rooted in the so-called Operation Southern Spear, initiated by the Trump administration in December 2025. The operation established a maritime quarantine on sanctioned tankers delivering Venezuelan crude oil to Cuba.
The U.S. Coast Guard intercepted at least seven tankers involved in these shipments, including the Aquila II, the Veronica III, and the Bertha.
On January 29, 2026, then-President Trump signed an executive order declaring a national emergency and authorizing tariffs against countries supplying oil to Cuba. Although a court ruling later overturned the tariffs on February 20, the national emergency status and maritime controls remained in place.
U.S. Policy and International Reactions
On March 12, 2026, the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) explicitly banned Cuba from receiving Russian oil, impacting at least two vessels en route. Additionally, the U.S. intercepted three tankers in the Indian Ocean attempting to bypass the blockade.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed claims of a formal naval blockade, attributing Cuba's energy crisis to the regime's longstanding reliance on Soviet and Venezuelan subsidies. Rubio argued that Cuba's lack of oil was due to its own structural decisions, not U.S. actions.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla accused Washington of issuing "contradictory statements" to create confusion and sustain the energy blockade. Meanwhile, Deputy Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío labeled the naval blockade threats as an "act of war" against a peaceful nation. Rodríguez Parrilla challenged the U.S. government's denials of its own actions before the international community.
Impact on Cuba: A Broader Perspective
The fuel shortage caused by the blockade has exacerbated prolonged blackouts and the collapse of critical sectors in the Cuban economy. While the regime blames Washington, these issues are, in reality, the cumulative result of 67 years of dictatorial governance.
Key Questions About U.S.-Cuba Maritime Dispute
What is Operation Southern Spear?
Operation Southern Spear is a U.S. initiative launched by the Trump administration in December 2025 to impose a maritime quarantine on tankers delivering Venezuelan crude oil to Cuba.
How has the U.S. justified its maritime actions against Cuba?
The U.S. denies a formal naval blockade, claiming that Cuba's energy crisis stems from its reliance on external subsidies and its own structural decisions, rather than American policies.
What impact has the U.S. blockade had on Cuba?
The blockade has led to significant fuel shortages, worsening blackouts, and the deterioration of key economic sectors in Cuba, which the regime attributes solely to U.S. actions.