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Reuters
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Top Cuban official accuses US of escalating tensions, raises concerns of conflict
WASHINGTON, June 3 (Reuters) - A visiting senior Cuban official on Tuesday accused the Trump administration of ratcheting up tensions between Washington and Havana and expressed concerns that the U.S. was trying to provoke a military confrontation. Speaking to reporters at the Cuban Embassy in Washington, Johana Tablada, deputy director for U.S. affairs in Cuba's foreign ministry, said an armed clash between the two old Cold War rivals was "not a good idea" and that the Cuban government was trying to ease the situation but that the U.S. appeared determined to further damage relations. Tablada said new Trump administration measures targeting Communist-ruled Cuba intend to "dynamite our relation(ship) to really provoke a rupture of relation, and even to create conditions, in my opinion, for, if necessary, a military confrontation." Republican U.S. President Donald Trump and his top officials have taken a hardline approach to Cuba since he took office in January, returning longtime foe Cuba to a U.S. list of State Sponsors of Terrorism, tightening rules on remittances, and shutting off migration programs that allowed some Cubans to work in the U.S. legally. Trump officials have not publicly threatened any military action. The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. U.S. Chief of Mission Mike Hammer - the top U.S. diplomat in Havana - has traveled the island widely in recent months to meet with political dissidents, raising the ire of the Cuban government, which accuses him of seeking to foment unrest. Cuba's foreign ministry last week issued a verbal warning to Hammer, saying he had incited "Cuban citizens to commit serious criminal acts, attack the constitutional order, or encourage them to act against the authorities," calling his actions a violation of the Vienna Convention norms on diplomatic relations. Tablada accused Hammer of channeling U.S. humanitarian funds to undermine the Cuban government and said Cuban diplomats would not be allowed to engage in similar behavior in the U.S. 'To push both countries into scenarios of confrontation and collision is not a good idea,' she said. Just days before Trump took office in January former President Joe Biden's administration removed Cuba from its terrorism blacklist, effectively reversing sanctions from Trump's first term. After returning to office, Trump quickly returned Cuba to the blacklist and also reinstated many of the restrictions on trade and travel that Biden had eased.
Reuters
4 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Cuba issues verbal warning to top US diplomat in Havana for 'disrespectful conduct'
HAVANA, May 30 (Reuters) - Cuba`s foreign ministry said on Friday it had issued a verbal warning to the top U.S. diplomat in Havana complaining of behavior it called "intervenionist," the latest escalation as tensions grow between the two long-time foes. Cuba said U.S. Chief of Mission Mike Hammer had incited "Cuban citizens to commit serious criminal acts, attack the constitutional order, or encourage them to act against the authorities," calling his actions a violation of the Vienna Convention norms on diplomatic relations. "The immunity he enjoys as a representative of his country cannot be used as cover for acts contrary to the sovereignty and internal order of the country to which he is accredited, in this case Cuba," the statement said. Hammer, a career U.S. diplomat who arrived in Cuba six months ago, has traveled the island widely to meet with political dissidents, raising the ire of the Cuban government, which accuses him of seeking to foment unrest. The U.S. State Department defended Hammer`s actions. "Chief of Mission Mike Hammer and the U.S. Embassy proudly represent President Trump by implementing an America First foreign policy and seeking accountability for the Cuban regime for its malign influence across the Americas," a State Department official said. "We will continue to meet with Cuban patriots, religious leaders, and those fighting for the freedoms of Cubans," the official said. The growing tensions come as Cubans confront the worst economic downturn in decades, a predicament the Cuban government blames on the Cold War-era U.S. embargo, a web of restrictions that impede financial transactions, trade, tourism and the import of fuel. Cuba`s decision to formally chastise Hammer comes just days the U.S. diplomat said in a press conference in Miami that the Trump administration was preparing further sanctions against the communist-run nation. Cuba has repeatedly criticized Hammer over months but has not impeded his travels across the island.
Bloomberg
4 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Cooking Gas Shortage in Cuba Fuels Electric Demand, Deepening Energy Crisis
Top Cuban officials took to the airwaves as a shortage of cooking gas on the communist-run island prompted an unusual spike in electricity demand that's now exacerbating blackouts. President Miguel Diaz-Canel said electricity demand is exceeding 3,500 megawatts at certain times of the day — about 250 megawatts more than usual — and outstripping the island's 1,935 megawatt capacity.
