Overview
- Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla accused the United States of imposing an oil or energy blockade and called the measures an act of “collective punishment” during his UN General Assembly speech on Saturday.
- U.S. diplomats walked out as Rodríguez began speaking, following an earlier episode in which the Cuban delegation left during President Trump’s UN address.
- Cuba says the measures have concrete effects, reporting severe fuel shortages, rolling blackouts and more than 7,000 containers with food, medicines and medical equipment stranded in ports.
- President Trump told reporters he expects the two countries “will make a deal” and said he does not foresee needing military action, even as U.S. officials press for political changes in Havana.
- Havana says it remains willing to negotiate but only on the basis of sovereign equality, no interference and no preconditions, a stance that leaves any talks dependent on both humanitarian relief and political concessions.