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Straits Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Top Cuban official accuses US of trying to provoke conflict
Top Cuban official accuses US of trying to provoke conflict WASHINGTON - 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 rupture relations "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. A State Department spokesperson said the Trump administration had "no indication" that the Cuban government was ready for a "meaningful" dialogue with the U.S. "We call on the regime to release the American citizens, return U.S. fugitives, and free the hundreds of Cuban political prisoners who remain imprisoned and used as bargaining chips," the spokesperson said in a statement. 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 Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Top Cuban official accuses US of trying to provoke conflict
WASHINGTON -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 rupture relations "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. A State Department spokesperson said the Trump administration had "no indication" that the Cuban government was ready for a "meaningful" dialogue with the U.S. "We call on the regime to release the American citizens, return U.S. fugitives, and free the hundreds of Cuban political prisoners who remain imprisoned and used as bargaining chips," the spokesperson said in a statement. 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.
The Star
3 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Top Cuban official accuses US of escalating tensions, raises concerns of conflict
FILE PHOTO: Johana Tablada, Cuba's deputy director of U.S. affairs, addresses the media in Havana, Cuba, April 15, 2024. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini/File Photo WASHINGTON (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. (Reporting by Ted Hesson; Additional reporting by Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Don Durfee and Alistair Bell)
The Print
24-05-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Top US diplomat in Havana promises more sanctions on Cuba
'The sanctions announced this Wednesday were just the beginning,' U.S. Embassy chief of mission Mike Hammer told reporters at a press conference in Miami. 'This administration is determined to sanction repressors. There will be consequences for their actions.' Three Cuban judges and a prosecutor were forbidden from entering the United States on Wednesday, the latest sanctions from the Trump administration, which earlier declared a tough new policy on Cuba. By Dave Sherwood HAVANA (Reuters) -The U.S. has more sanctions in store for Cuba, the U.S. top diplomat in Havana said on Friday, just days after the U.S. punished several Cuban judicial officials for their roles in jailing political dissidents on the island nation. President Donald Trump has already doubled down on sanctions since taking office in January, returning longtime foe Cuba to a U.S. list of State Sponsors of Terrorism, tightening rules on remittances, and shutting off Biden-era migration programs. The 61-year-old Hammer, a career U.S. diplomat who arrived in Cuba just six months ago, has kept a busy schedule, wandering the country widely as he talks with dissidents, small-business owners and Cubans of all walks of life. In videos produced by the U.S. embassy and shared on social media, Hammer, who is fluent in Spanish, plays dominoes with a group of children in Camaguey, visits the tomb of Cuban hero Jose Marti in Santiago and speaks with family members of jailed dissidents in homes throughout Cuba. His travels come as Cubans confront the worst economic downturn in decades, a growing crisis the Cuban government blames on the Cold War-era U.S. embargo, a web of restrictions that impede financial transactions, trade and tourism. Hammer told reporters on Friday that those Cubans he had spoken with in his travels disagreed that the U.S. was to blame. 'The people recognize that those responsible are the Cuban regime, it has nothing to do with any policy of the United States.' Those assertions have infuriated the Cuban government, which accuses Hammer of seeking to stir up resentment in a bid to overthrow the island's communist leadership. 'Hammer's comments were not part of a neutral press conference, but rather a carefully orchestrated political operation…designed to position the Trump administration and (Secretary of State) Marco Rubio as though they were 'allies of the Cuban people,'' said Cuban diplomat Johana Tablada, who deals in U.S.-Cuba relations. Even so, Cuba has not moved to block Hammer's travels, although it issued a recent warning in state-run media that its 'patience has limits.' Hammer told reporters he would continue his work on the island. 'What are they scared of? I'm just a simple chief of mission talking with the people,' he said. (Reporting by Dave Sherwood in Havana; Editing by Matthew Lewis and Leslie Adler) Disclaimer: This report is auto generated from the Reuters news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Straits Times
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Top US diplomat in Havana promises more sanctions on Cuba
Top US diplomat in Havana promises more sanctions on Cuba HAVANA - The U.S. has more sanctions in store for Cuba, the U.S. top diplomat in Havana said on Friday, just days after the U.S. punished several Cuban judicial officials for their roles in jailing political dissidents on the island nation. Three Cuban judges and a prosecutor were forbidden from entering the United States on Wednesday, the latest sanctions from the Trump administration, which earlier declared a tough new policy on Cuba. "The sanctions announced this Wednesday were just the beginning," U.S. Embassy chief of mission Mike Hammer told reporters at a press conference in Miami. "This administration is determined to sanction repressors. There will be consequences for their actions." President Donald Trump has already doubled down on sanctions since taking office in January, returning longtime foe Cuba to a U.S. list of State Sponsors of Terrorism, tightening rules on remittances, and shutting off Biden-era migration programs. The 61-year-old Hammer, a career U.S. diplomat who arrived in Cuba just six months ago, has kept a busy schedule, wandering the country widely as he talks with dissidents, small-business owners and Cubans of all walks of life. In videos produced by the U.S. embassy and shared on social media, Hammer, who is fluent in Spanish, plays dominoes with a group of children in Camaguey, visits the tomb of Cuban hero Jose Marti in Santiago and speaks with family members of jailed dissidents in homes throughout Cuba. His travels come as Cubans confront the worst economic downturn in decades, a growing crisis the Cuban government blames on the Cold War-era U.S. embargo, a web of restrictions that impede financial transactions, trade and tourism. Hammer told reporters on Friday that those Cubans he had spoken with in his travels disagreed that the U.S. was to blame. "The people recognize that those responsible are the Cuban regime, it has nothing to do with any policy of the United States." Those assertions have infuriated the Cuban government, which accuses Hammer of seeking to stir up resentment in a bid to overthrow the island's communist leadership. "Hammer's comments were not part of a neutral press conference, but rather a carefully orchestrated political to position the Trump administration and (Secretary of State) Marco Rubio as though they were 'allies of the Cuban people,'" said Cuban diplomat Johana Tablada, who deals in U.S.-Cuba relations. Even so, Cuba has not moved to block Hammer's travels, although it issued a recent warning in state-run media that its "patience has limits." Hammer told reporters he would continue his work on the island. "What are they scared of? I'm just a simple chief of mission talking with the people," he said. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
