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Cuba condemns US sanctions as 'equivalent to genocide'

A senior Cuban diplomat has launched a sharp rebuke of Washington's economic embargo, characterizing the decades-long sanctions regime as an atrocity. The statement reflects escalating tensions between Havana and the United States over the island nation's isolation.

LSN World News · 27 September 2026

Cuba condemns US sanctions as 'equivalent to genocide'

Cuba's deputy foreign minister has intensified criticism of US economic sanctions, describing the embargo as an "atrocity" that inflicts widespread suffering on the Cuban population. The official characterized the sanctions regime as "equivalent to genocide," underscoring Havana's long-standing grievance that the blockade has crippled the economy and restricted access to essential goods and services.

The rebuke comes amid broader geopolitical tensions in the region and reflects Cuba's consistent position that unilateral US measures violate international law. Cuban officials have repeatedly argued that the sanctions framework, maintained for more than six decades, disproportionately harms ordinary citizens rather than government leadership.

The diplomatic salvo highlights the continued acrimony between Washington and Havana despite periodic attempts at diplomatic engagement. Cuba's government has called for the unconditional lifting of all sanctions as a prerequisite for normalized relations, while the United States has maintained the embargo as leverage on issues ranging from human rights to political reform.

The statement underscores the deep divide between the two nations on fundamental policy questions and the obstacles facing any near-term resolution of their bilateral disputes.