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Al Jazeera
18 hours ago
- Business
- Al Jazeera
‘Unfriendly and meddling': Cuba reprimands US diplomat amid rising tensions
Cuba's Foreign Ministry has issued a statement of protest against the head of the United States mission to the island, Michael Hammer. In a news release published on Friday, the Foreign Ministry accused Hammer, a career diplomat, of 'unfriendly and meddling behaviour' since his arrival to Cuba in late 2024. 'By inciting Cuban citizens to commit extremely serious criminal acts, attacking the constitutional order, or encouraging them to act against the authorities or demonstrate in support of the interests and objectives of a hostile foreign power, the diplomat is engaging in provocative and irresponsible conduct,' the Foreign Ministry wrote. '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 assigned, in this case Cuba.' The Foreign Ministry said the message was delivered by its director of bilateral affairs with the US, Alejandro Garcia del Toro. Friday's statement is the latest indication of increasingly rocky relations between Cuba and the US, particularly since President Donald Trump began his second term in January. Diplomatic ties between the two countries, however, have been icy for decades, stretching back to the Cold War in the 1960s. After the Cuban Revolution of 1959, the US government imposed strict trade restrictions on the island and backed efforts to topple the newly established Communist government. But there have been efforts to ease the tensions, notably during the administrations of Democratic presidents like Barack Obama and Joe Biden in the US. In 2016, for instance, Obama sought to normalise relations with Cuba, only to see those efforts rolled back during the first Trump administration, starting in 2017. Likewise, President Biden — who formerly served as Obama's vice president — removed Cuba from the US's list of 'state sponsors of terrorism' in the waning days of his term in January. But upon taking office for his second time on January 20, Trump reversed course once more, putting Cuba back on the list that very same day. Trump also included in his presidential cabinet several officials who have taken a hardline stance towards Cuba, most notably former Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Born to Cuban immigrants, Rubio is an outspoken supporter of continuing the trade embargo against the island. The Cuban government, meanwhile, has continued to accuse the US of attempting to destabilise its leadership. In Friday's statement, the Cuban Foreign Ministry accused Hammer of 'public and insulting manipulation' for his recent visit to the tomb of a 19th-century national hero, Jose Marti. The US Embassy to Cuba posted a video of the visit with a voiceover of Marti's words, 'Respect for the freedom and thoughts of others, even of the most unhappy kind, is my passion: If I die or am killed, it will be for that.' Critics have interpreted that citation as an implied endorsement of dissent on the island. In recent months, there have also been signs that Trump plans to once again tighten the screws on the Cuban government, in a return to the 'maximum pressure' campaigns that typified foreign policy during his first term. In February, for instance, the Trump administration announced it would yank visas from anyone who works with Cuba's medical system, which sends thousands of healthcare workers abroad each year, particularly in the Caribbean region. Critics have criticised the healthcare programme for its low pay and hefty restrictions on its employees. Trump and Rubio, meanwhile, have claimed the medical system amounts to a form of 'forced labour' that enriches the Cuban government. But leaders in Havana have denied that allegation. Then, in April, the US government condemned Cuba for re-arresting a group of dissidents, among them prominent figures like Jose Daniel Ferrer and Felix Navarro. Cuba had initially agreed to release Ferrer and Navarro as part of a bargain brokered by the Vatican earlier this year. Cuba was expected to release 553 prisoners, many of whom were swept up in anti-government protests, and in exchange, the US was supposed to ease its sanctions against the island. The sanctions relief, however, never came. An additional measure was taken against Cuba just this month. The State Department, under Rubio's direction, determined that 'Cuba did not fully cooperate with U.S. counterterrorism efforts in 2024'. It accused Cuba of harbouring 11 fugitives, some of whom faced terrorism-related charges in the US. 'The Cuban regime made clear it was not willing to discuss their return to face justice in our nation,' the State Department wrote in a news release. 'The United States will continue to promote international cooperation on counterterrorism issues. We also continue to promote accountability for countries that do not stand against terrorism.' As punishment, Cuba was labelled as a 'not fully cooperating country' under the Arms Export Control Act, a designation that limits its ability to purchase weaponry and other defence tools from the US. Furthermore, Hammer had recently signalled that new sanctions were on the way for the island. But in the face of Friday's reprimand, the US. State Department indicated it was undeterred and would continue to support dissidents against Cuba's 'malign influence'.
Reuters
a day 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.
CNA
a day ago
- Business
- CNA
Geopolitics Professor Philippe Le Corre on US-EU relations and Europe-Asia ties
Ahead of French President Emmanuel's keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Professor of Geopolitics Philippe Le Corre from the ESSEC Business School shares his thoughts on US and EU relations, as well as how Europe can offer Asia a different approach to international relations.
South China Morning Post
a day ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Trump's non-tariff curbs on China may hurt trade talks, sentiment, Morgan Stanley says
The Trump administration's non-tariff measures against China – including a student visa ban and the delisting of mainland companies from American stock exchanges – could derail trade negotiations and weigh on near-term investor sentiment, according to Morgan Stanley. Advertisement The Chinese government wants to achieve a de-escalation in the tariff and trade issues with the US, but would not be happy or satisfied if other non-tariff measures continued to inflame ties, said Laura Wang, chief China equity strategist at the US investment bank, at a media briefing on Friday. 'I would stay very alert to these measures,' she said. The student visa ban, stock delisting and 'some of the other things could potentially come in the next few months' and would require a careful assessment in terms of the damage to the US-China relationship, she added. Secretary of State Marco Rubio upped the ante this week when he said the US would 'aggressively' revoke visas of Chinese students, including those with connections to the Communist Party or those enrolled in critical fields in the US. China said the discriminatory move would further damage the US's image. 03:01 US appeals court allows Donald Trump's tariffs to stay in effect US appeals court allows Donald Trump's tariffs to stay in effect Wang said the bank was less concerned about the fallout from any delistings of Chinese companies, as many of the big ones trade in Hong Kong. There were 286 such stocks with a combined market capitalisation of US$1.1 trillion as of March 7, according to a US government report.
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Dr Mahathir says China will overtake US and stay as world's top power, downplays India's potential as competitor
TOKYO, May 30 – Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad reportedly said China is poised to become the world's leading power, asserting that the United States lacks the capacity to halt its rise due to growing domestic preoccupations. Speaking at the Nikkei Future of Asia conference in Tokyo, Dr Mahathir said US President Donald Trump appeared threatened by China's emergence, but noted China's long-standing civilisation and resilience would ensure its ascendancy. 'China has been there much longer than the US ... I don't think China is going to be easily defeated by the US,' he was quoted saying by Nikkei Asia. 'I don't think the US will recover and become No. 1 again. China looks like it is going to be the No. 1 country in the world.' Dr Mahathir also criticised Trump's use of tariffs, saying they have alienated the US globally and would ultimately harm American consumers due to the country's reliance on imports, including high-tech components like microchips. 'Trump has made the whole world the enemy ... I give Trump three months before he will have to do away with the tariffs,' he reportedly said. Earlier this month in an interview with TIME magazine, Dr Mahathir had called out the superpower for its hypocrisy and disastrous foreign policies under Trump. However, he dismissed the idea that India could rival China's influence, citing its complex social structure and decentralised governance, which he said made it difficult for India to adopt a unified global posture. 'India cannot have a singular government that rules the whole of India with no one challenging its position,' he said. Dr Mahathir also expressed concern over the US dollar's dominance in international trade, arguing that it enables Washington to impose sanctions on other countries too easily. 'America has too much power to apply sanctions because they have control over trade settlements,' he said, advocating for a new gold-based international trading currency. In 2019, Dr Mahathir had proposed in Tokyo a new currency based on gold, citing it as more stable rather than the current currency trading which is manipulative.
