Caribbean foreign ministers have sharply criticised the United States over its continued economic blockade of Cuba and recent rhetoric suggesting possible military action against the island, warning that such measures threaten regional stability and worsen humanitarian conditions for the Cuban people.
The strongly worded position emerged following a meeting of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) foreign ministers in Suriname, where officials condemned efforts to restrict Cuba’s access to fuel and other essential supplies. The ministers stressed that Cuba poses no threat to any nation and has the sovereign right to procure energy and resources needed to support its population.
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In their statement, the ministers said they were deeply concerned about the intensifying economic, commercial, and financial restrictions being imposed on Cuba, arguing that the measures have contributed to a worsening humanitarian crisis on the island.
The officials “unequivocally” affirmed Cuba’s right to import fuel and condemned attempts to obstruct energy supplies, stating that the continued sanctions violate principles of human rights, free trade, and international norms governing relations between sovereign states.
The ministers also expressed alarm over recent statements from U.S. officials suggesting the possibility of military intervention against Cuba, warning that any such action would inflict severe human suffering and destabilise the wider Caribbean region. CARICOM reaffirmed its longstanding commitment to preserving the Caribbean as a “zone of peace.”
However, the statement revealed divisions within the regional bloc, noting that Guyana and Trinidad and Tobagoreserved their positions on the declaration and did not formally endorse the language condemning Washington’s actions. Both countries have maintained close strategic and energy ties with the United States in recent years.
The CARICOM position came shortly after Jamaica’s opposition People’s National Party also criticised the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump for executive actions that it said were designed to create hardship for the Cuban population, including disruptions to the country’s healthcare system.
CARICOM leaders had previously agreed during their February summit in Saint Kitts and Nevis to organise humanitarian assistance for Cuba as the island continues to face shortages of fuel, food, and other basic necessities. It remains unclear whether those shipments have since been delivered.
Regional ties with Cuba date back decades. In 1972, Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados established diplomatic relations with Cuba, helping to end the island’s isolation in the region. Those relationships have remained strong ever since.
