This Wednesday, Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz took to his X account to accuse the United States government of seeking to "strangle" Cuba through economic sanctions.
Marrero described Washington's actions as "a severe violation of human rights."
"The U.S. government's escalating aggression against Cuba aims to suffocate a noble people who deserve to live in peace. It seeks to deprive us of critical resources and isolate us commercially," he stated.
His message included a political cartoon depicting Uncle Sam unsuccessfully trying to pull a sword with the Cuban flag's colors from a rock marked with the word "FIRMNESS."
This statement comes shortly after Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the first designations under Executive Order 14404, signed by former President Donald Trump on May 1, which freezes assets and interests of the regime within U.S. territory.
The targets of the new sanctions against Cuba include GAESA—the military conglomerate controlling about 40% of the Cuban economy—its CEO Ania Guillermina Lastres Morera, and Moa Nickel S.A., a joint venture with Canadian Sherritt International.
The Cuban government strongly condemned the executive order, while analysts and critics argue that the blame for the economic and energy collapse lies in 67 years of dictatorial management, not solely on the U.S. embargo.
Reactions to Marrero's post on X were polarized and, in many instances, blunt. Critics of the regime directly challenged his narrative.
"What terrifies you most is losing your life of opulence and luxury that only you enjoy in Cuba, while the entire nation starves. You keep Cubans suffering with the blockade story," one user commented.
Another added more bluntly, "The Cuban people are noble... the Castro's murderous regime is not. You are part of the murderous Castro regime you want to whitewash."
A third user encapsulated the widespread skepticism: "They have you active on social media, but that won't be enough. #DownWithTheDictatorship."
From the pro-government side, some of Marrero's supporters backed his message with hashtags like #LaPatriaSeDefiende and #CubaResiste.
Marrero's post follows a familiar pattern: every new U.S. pressure tactic prompts a rhetorical response from the regime on social media, appealing to resistance and blaming the embargo for all ills, even as Cuba projects a 7.2% GDP drop in 2026 and millions of Cubans face an unprecedented crisis in decades.
Rubio has pledged to intensify pressure on the regime's elites, signaling more sanctions in the coming weeks.
Key Questions About U.S.-Cuba Relations and Sanctions
What are the new sanctions imposed by the U.S. on Cuba?
The new sanctions include freezing assets and interests of entities such as GAESA, its CEO Ania Guillermina Lastres Morera, and Moa Nickel S.A., following Executive Order 14404.
How has the Cuban government responded to these sanctions?
The Cuban government has vehemently rejected the executive order, criticizing it as a violation of human rights and attributing economic hardship to the U.S. embargo rather than internal governance.