In a significant escalation of bilateral tensions, U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order on January 29, 2026, declaring a national emergency and identifying Cuba as an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to American national security. The presidential directive accused Havana of aligning with hostile nations and terrorist organizations including Russia, China, Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah, alleging actions detrimental to U.S. interests.
The declaration serves as legal foundation for implementing trade tariffs effective January 30, 2026, targeting any foreign government supplying petroleum products to Cuba either directly or indirectly. President Trump asserted that “the tariff system is necessary and appropriate to address the national emergency declared in this order.”
Cuba’s Revolutionary Government responded with forceful condemnation, characterizing the measures as an unjustified aggression designed to impose a total fuel blockade. Official statements denounced the executive order as violating international law and undermining regional stability, particularly the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace.
Havana dismissed U.S. security concerns as fabricated narratives, stating: “The President himself and his government are aware that no one, or very few, can believe such mendacious arguments.” Cuban authorities framed the action as continuation of six-decade efforts to undermine Cuba’s sovereign political process, emphasizing their commitment to peaceful international relations.
The Caribbean nation affirmed its resilience against economic coercion, stating imperialist actions would not break the people’s determination. The government concluded its response with a defiant declaration: “We will face this new attack with firmness, equanimity, and the certainty that reason is absolutely on our side. The decision is one: Homeland or Death, We Shall Overcome!”