Erbil:Ouagadougou The Cuban Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, reaffirmed his country's determination to defend its independence and sovereignty against American pressures on November 5, 2026. He asserted that Washington's attempts to subdue Cuba would continue to fail.

According to Agence d'Information du Burkina, Minister Rodriguez Parrilla made a statement on his X account in response to new sanctions announced by the US administration. He criticized the measures, stating they aim to strangle the island's economy and inflict maximum harm on its population.

The minister emphasized that, instead of listening to its own people, the US government has announced new blockade measures against Cuba, aiming to suffocate its economy and cause significant damage to its people. He declared that efforts to force Cuba to succumb to external designs will continue to be met with an effective defense of its independence and sovereignty.

Rodriguez Parrilla highlighted that, for ten months, the Cuban people have faced an unprecedented tightening of the US-imposed economic blockade, an energy embargo akin to a naval blockade, and secondary sanctions against individuals and entities engaging in trade with Cuba. He condemned the US for escalating its economic warfare against Cuba to inhumane levels, akin to collective punishment.

The US administration announced on November 5, 2026, new sanctions targeting individuals and entities in several sectors of the Cuban economy, including production, technology, electronics, and maritime activities. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio specified that the restrictions target members of the Cuban elite, individuals suspected of involvement in oil transportation, and "Cuban arms suppliers based in China." In total, the sanctions affect eight organizations, two individuals, and five vessels.