The Cuban Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, expressed strong disapproval on Tuesday regarding the U.S. decision to extend its embargo on Cuba. He described the move as a "genocidal policy that has oppressed our people for over six decades," according to a statement released by the Cuban Foreign Ministry on social media.
The Cuban government's response follows the recent decision by former President Donald Trump to sign Presidential Determination No. 2026-21 on August 20, extending the Trading with the Enemy Act authorities against Cuba until September 14, 2027.
Background of the Embargo Extension
The measure was officially recorded in the Federal Register on Monday, August 24, citing the continuation as being in the "national interest" of the United States. Rodríguez Parrilla criticized this action, arguing that it represents a clear intention by Washington. "The renewal of the so-called Trading with the Enemy Act until September 2027 is not a minor administrative act; it confirms Washington's intent to suffocate an entire nation," he stated on his X account.
Historical Context and Political Implications
This extension is a routine annual procedure performed by all presidents, with the previous extension signed by Trump in August 2025 and before that by Joe Biden in September 2024. Permanent removal of the embargo requires congressional action as codified in the Helms-Burton Act of 1996; the president can only extend or modify the annual authorities under the Trading with the Enemy Act, which dates back to 1917.
For decades, the Cuban regime has used the embargo as a principal argument to justify its economic and social crises. However, independent analysts argue that the ongoing collapse largely stems from over six decades of structural inefficiencies inherent in the communist model. Even Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz admitted in July 2025 that "not all of Cuba's problems are due to the blockade."
Cuba's Continual Critique of U.S. Sanctions
This is not the first time in 2026 that Rodríguez Parrilla has labeled Washington's sanctions as "genocidal." In July, he termed a new set of U.S. sanctions as "a clear manifestation of the criminal and genocidal intent" of the United States.
Earlier in 2026, the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared an "international emergency" due to Trump's executive orders affecting oil supply to Cuba, and Trump signed another executive order against the regime on May 1, 2026.
International Response to the Embargo
On the international stage, the United Nations General Assembly passed a non-binding resolution in October 2025 — for the 33rd consecutive time since 1992 — calling for the end of the embargo, with 165 votes in favor and only seven against, including the United States. In July 2026, the UN also sanctioned an urgent debate on the matter with 136 votes in favor.
Rodríguez Parrilla concluded his statement with a slogan that has become a frequent refrain for the regime: "#CubaIsNotAThreat, the blockade is."
Understanding the U.S. Embargo on Cuba
Why is the U.S. embargo on Cuba extended annually?
The U.S. embargo on Cuba is extended annually as a necessary procedure under the Trading with the Enemy Act. The president has the authority to extend or alter the embargo annually, but permanently lifting it requires congressional approval as outlined in the Helms-Burton Act of 1996.
What are the primary criticisms of the embargo from the Cuban government?
The Cuban government criticizes the embargo as a "genocidal policy" that has significantly harmed the Cuban population for decades. They argue it is an attempt by the U.S. to economically suffocate the nation and blame it for the island's ongoing economic struggles.