Reuters
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On Monday, Canada announced its intention to offer aid to Cuba, which is currently struggling with severe fuel scarcity following Washington’s efforts to disrupt the island’s oil deliveries.
In recent weeks, Washington has intensified its coercive actions against the Communist-governed island, a long-standing adversary of the U.S.
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has acted to prevent any oil from reaching Cuba, even shipments from its ally Venezuela. This policy has led to increased costs for food and transport, alongside critical fuel deficits and prolonged power outages.
Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand stated on Monday, “We are developing an aid strategy. At this time, we are unable to disclose further information regarding this announcement,” abstaining from specifying the scope of the planned assistance.
The United Nations has issued a caution that a failure to meet Cuba’s energy requirements could precipitate a humanitarian emergency. Last week, Canada indicated it was observing the situation in Cuba and expressed apprehension about “the growing potential for a humanitarian crisis” within the nation.
Motivated by the U.S. military’s apprehension of the ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro during a fatal January raid, Trump has frequently spoken about implementing measures against Cuba and pressuring its leadership.
Under Trump’s presidency, Washington and Ottawa also experienced strained relations concerning matters such as trade duties, Trump’s comments regarding Greenland, Ottawa’s efforts to improve relations with Beijing, and Prime Minister Mark Carney’s statements advocating for “middle powers” to collaborate to prevent succumbing to U.S. dominance.
Trump asserted that “Cuba is likely to collapse quite soon,” noting furthermore that Venezuela, formerly the primary provider to the island, has ceased dispatching oil or financial aid to Cuba recently.
According to the UN human rights office, the U.S. operation where Maduro was apprehended constituted a breach of international law. Experts in human rights characterize Trump’s foreign policy, particularly his emphasis on leveraging Venezuelan oil and pressuring Cuba, as indicative of an imperialistic strategy.