In a stark condemnation of United States foreign policy, former Belize Foreign Minister Assad Shoman has characterized recent US actions against Cuba as constituting a “death threat” against the Cuban people. This accusation comes amid escalating tensions following President Donald Trump’s declaration of a national emergency, labeling Cuba an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to US national security.
The Trump administration’s intensified sanctions regime has effectively blockaded oil shipments to the island nation, creating severe energy shortages that Belize Prime Minister John Briceño warns could trigger a “manufactured humanitarian disaster.” Shoman, speaking as a private citizen, articulated that the explicit objective of these measures is to induce sufficient suffering among the Cuban populace to incite rebellion against their government—a tactic he unequivocally denounced as “terrorism.”
This policy has drawn widespread international criticism, with the United Nations having condemned the US embargo over thirty times. Shoman noted that even US European allies have expressed disapproval. The former minister challenged the credibility of US claims that Cuba hosts Russian spies or terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah, citing a recent statement from UN human rights experts who found the characterization of Cuba as a security threat “lacks credibility” and appears designed to justify coercive measures.
With Mexico halting oil shipments to Cuba under US pressure and instead providing humanitarian aid, and Canada considering similar aid, Shoman called on Belize and CARICOM nations to follow suit. He expressed disappointment that Caribbean leaders remain largely silent on the issue, likely due to fear of US reprisal, but praised Belize’s Prime Minister Briceño as one of the few regional leaders to openly criticize US actions.
The geopolitical standoff places particular pressure on Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who must balance support for Cuba against responding to US pressure. The situation continues to develop as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio engages with Caribbean leaders during CARICOM’s fiftieth Heads of Government meeting.