‘Aggressive and perverse’: Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel slams new US sanctions

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Thursday (Jun 4) slammed the “aggressiveness and perversity” of the United States after US President Donald Trump’s administration announced new sanctions on him and some of his immediate family, alongside members of the Castro family. This comes as Washington ramps up pressure on its communist-led neighbour.

"The aggressiveness and perversity of the Yankee government will clash with our decision to confront the worst scenarios and resist the imperialist onslaught," Diaz-Canel wrote on X, adding that the sanctions "strengthen the blockade and scenario of conflict between Cuba and the United States."

Among those targeted by the US sanctions were the son and a grandson of Raul Castro. While he no longer holds an official position, the former president remains a key power-broker on the island.

While Cuba has been under a US trade embargo since 1962, Washington has intensified pressure by expanding sanctions against the island’s leadership, including Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel. The Trump administration argues that Cuba’s communist government poses a threat to US national security and has imposed measures targeting senior officials, members of the Castro family, and key state-controlled entities.

Trump has also tightened restrictions on Cuba’s fuel supplies, worsening an already severe economic and energy crisis. In response, Díaz-Canel accused Washington of strengthening the blockade and escalating tensions between the two countries, while Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla condemned the sanctions as hostile and vowed resistance.

The fuel shortages have severely impacted daily life across Cuba. Frequent power outages lasting up to 22 hours, transportation disruptions, and shortages of food, medicine, and clean water have left the country increasingly dependent on foreign aid and imports. Additional US restrictions have also disrupted financial transactions and tourism, further isolating the island economically.

The humanitarian situation has raised international concern. As Cuba enters the Caribbean hurricane season while still recovering from previous storm damage, the United Nations warned that the combination of economic hardship, infrastructure failures, and natural disaster risks could create a major humanitarian emergency.