United Nations rights experts on Thursday (August 06) urged the international community to act quickly, warning that expanding US sanctions could push Cuba into a "full-blown crisis" and worsen the humanitarian situation on the island.&nbsp;Cuba has been under a US trade embargo since 1962. However, the experts said pressure has intensified in recent months after President Donald Trump expanded economic measures, including restrictions affecting the country's fuel supplies.&nbsp;The experts said the latest sanctions announced on July 23 targeted Cuba's energy sector, making fuel procurement even more difficult, including for humanitarian purposes. The measures came as the country faces acute fuel shortages and recently experienced its third major nationwide blackout.&nbsp;"The humanitarian consequences are already unfolding into a full-blown crisis, threatening the health rights, to life, to food and to development," the experts said. They also pointed to reports of uncollected waste in parts of Havana, warning that it has increased the risk of disease outbreaks.<h2>Trump's Cuba policy under scrutiny</h2>The experts said the US has expanded unilateral sanctions targeting key sectors of Cuba's economy since June 2026.&nbsp;Under Trump's second administration, an Executive Order signed in January 2026 declared a national emergency regarding Cuba and authorised US tariffs on countries supplying crude oil to the island.&nbsp;Another signed in May imposed secondary sanctions on non-US entities and foreign financial institutions that conduct business with Cuban state institutions or the military-run conglomerate GAESA.&nbsp;Experts said living conditions have worsened since the energy restrictions began in January. Millions of Cubans now struggle to access water, food and transport, while shortages of medicines and other essential supplies continue to grow.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pm-modi-s-foreign-visits-cost-74-59-crore-in-2026-till-july-2025-recorded-highest-spending-1786014940930">PM Modi's foreign visits cost ₹74.59 crore in 2026 till July; 2025 recorded highest spending</a><h2>UN calls for immediate global response</h2>The experts said UN agencies working in Cuba have already warned of rising food insecurity and shortages of medicines and basic necessities.&nbsp;"Food must never be used as an instrument of political pressure. Measures that knowingly deprive a population of the means to survive strike at the most basic guarantees of the rights to life and diminish the core of human dignity," they said.&nbsp;"The US government must cease all threats and hostile acts against Cuba's sovereignty and revoke all measures it has imposed on the country that stand contrary to international law."&nbsp;The experts urged the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly to take up the issue urgently as a matter of international peace and security. The statement was issued by UN special rapporteurs, who serve independently under mandates from the Human Rights Council and do not speak on behalf of the United Nations.

US sanctions push Cuba into full blown crisis, UN experts urge UN actionUN rights experts warned that expanding US sanctions are pushing Cuba into a full blown humanitarian crisis and urged the international community to take urgent action to prevent the situation from worsening.

United Nations rights experts on Thursday (August 06) urged the international community to act quickly, warning that expanding US sanctions could push Cuba into a "full-blown crisis" and worsen the humanitarian situation on the island. Cuba has been under a US trade embargo since 1962. However, the experts said pressure has intensified in recent months after President Donald Trump expanded economic measures, including restrictions affecting the country's fuel supplies. The experts said the latest sanctions announced on July 23 targeted Cuba's energy sector, making fuel procurement even more difficult, including for humanitarian purposes. The measures came as the country faces acute fuel shortages and recently experienced its third major nationwide blackout. "The humanitarian consequences are already unfolding into a full-blown crisis, threatening the health rights, to life, to food and to development," the experts said. They also pointed to reports of uncollected waste in parts of Havana, warning that it has increased the risk of disease outbreaks. Trump's Cuba policy under scrutiny The experts said the US has expanded unilateral sanctions targeting key sectors of Cuba's economy since June 2026. Under Trump's second administration, an Executive Order signed in January 2026 declared a national emergency regarding Cuba and authorised US tariffs on countries supplying crude oil to the island. Another signed in May imposed secondary sanctions on non-US entities and foreign financial institutions that conduct business with Cuban state institutions or the military-run conglomerate GAESA. Experts said living conditions have worsened since the energy restrictions began in January. Millions of Cubans now struggle to access water, food and transport, while shortages of medicines and other essential supplies continue to grow. Also Read: PM Modi's foreign visits cost ₹74.59 crore in 2026 till July; 2025 recorded highest spending UN calls for immediate global response The experts said UN agencies working in Cuba have already warned of rising food insecurity and shortages of medicines and basic necessities. "Food must never be used as an instrument of political pressure. Measures that knowingly deprive a population of the means to survive strike at the most basic guarantees of the rights to life and diminish the core of human dignity," they said. "The US government must cease all threats and hostile acts against Cuba's sovereignty and revoke all measures it has imposed on the country that stand contrary to international law." The experts urged the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly to take up the issue urgently as a matter of international peace and security. The statement was issued by UN special rapporteurs, who serve independently under mandates from the Human Rights Council and do not speak on behalf of the United Nations.

US sanctions push Cuba into full blown crisis, UN experts urge UN actionUN rights experts warned that expanding US sanctions are pushing Cuba into a full blown humanitarian crisis and urged the international community to take urgent action to prevent the situation from worsening.

US sanctions pushing Cuba into full blown crisis: UN experts urge Security Council action

The US Southern Command which oversees US military action in the Caribbean and Latin America, on Wednesday (May 20) said that the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier and its strike group have arrived in the Caribbean as Washington continues to put pressure on the island's communist leadership.&nbsp;This comes after Washington imposed an effective oil blockade on the Caribbean nation and reports of Cuba acquiring drones capable of attacking the US mainland came to light.&nbsp;In fact, the US intelligence community has been pondering over how Cuba might respond if American took up any military action against the country, according to a CBS report.&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mark-carney-mocks-trump-teleprompter-conspiracy-theory-joke-1779336734625">Canada PM Mark Carney mocks Donald Trump over teleprompter glitch, jokes about ‘conspiracy theory’</a>&nbsp;Two US officials who had knowledge of the matter spoke to CBS on condition of anonymity and said "Work on developing military options for President Trump has begun."&nbsp;They also said, "US military planners frequently incorporate such analysis into developing options for a president to consider."&nbsp;The detail of US preparing for any retaliation from Cuba if it is attacked is not clear, but the process is ongoing as tensions between Havana and Washington rise.<h2>Cuba warns US of "bloodbath"</h2>&nbsp;Cuba’s leadership warned on Monday (May 18) that a US attack would trigger a ‘bloodbath’, as tensions with the United States escalated sharply following new sanctions targeting Havana’s intelligence apparatus and senior officials. President Miguel Diaz-Canel said Cuba would defend itself after a report by Axios alleged the country had acquired more than 300 military drones from Russia and Iran and was considering potential strikes on US targets.&nbsp;Taking to X &nbsp;Diaz-Canel warned &nbsp;“Cuba poses no threat” to the United States or any other country, but an attack would “trigger a bloodbath with incalculable consequences.”&nbsp;He also stressed that Cuba retains the absolute and legitimate right to defend itself against a military onslaught. Cuba’s ambassador to the United Nations, Ernesto Soberon Guzman, echoed the warning, saying the country would resist any invasion. “If someone tried to invade Cuba, Cuba will fight back, no doubt about it,” he said.&nbsp;

The detail of US preparing for any retaliation from Cuba if it is attacked is not clear, but the process is ongoing as tensions between Havana and Washington rise.

The US Southern Command which oversees US military action in the Caribbean and Latin America, on Wednesday (May 20) said that the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier and its strike group have arrived in the Caribbean as Washington continues to put pressure on the island's communist leadership. This comes after Washington imposed an effective oil blockade on the Caribbean nation and reports of Cuba acquiring drones capable of attacking the US mainland came to light. In fact, the US intelligence community has been pondering over how Cuba might respond if American took up any military action against the country, according to a CBS report. ALSO READ: Canada PM Mark Carney mocks Donald Trump over teleprompter glitch, jokes about ‘conspiracy theory’ Two US officials who had knowledge of the matter spoke to CBS on condition of anonymity and said "Work on developing military options for President Trump has begun." They also said, "US military planners frequently incorporate such analysis into developing options for a president to consider." The detail of US preparing for any retaliation from Cuba if it is attacked is not clear, but the process is ongoing as tensions between Havana and Washington rise. Cuba warns US of "bloodbath" Cuba’s leadership warned on Monday (May 18) that a US attack would trigger a ‘bloodbath’, as tensions with the United States escalated sharply following new sanctions targeting Havana’s intelligence apparatus and senior officials. President Miguel Diaz-Canel said Cuba would defend itself after a report by Axios alleged the country had acquired more than 300 military drones from Russia and Iran and was considering potential strikes on US targets. Taking to X Diaz-Canel warned “Cuba poses no threat” to the United States or any other country, but an attack would “trigger a bloodbath with incalculable consequences.” He also stressed that Cuba retains the absolute and legitimate right to defend itself against a military onslaught. Cuba’s ambassador to the United Nations, Ernesto Soberon Guzman, echoed the warning, saying the country would resist any invasion. “If someone tried to invade Cuba, Cuba will fight back, no doubt about it,” he said.

The detail of US preparing for any retaliation from Cuba if it is attacked is not clear, but the process is ongoing as tensions between Havana and Washington rise.

US preparing for conflict with Cuba? American intelligence analysing prospects of Cuba retaliation if military action initiated: Report

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US sanctions pushing Cuba into full blown crisis: UN experts urge Security Council action

US analysing prospects of Cuba retaliation if military action initiated: Report