In brief
At the 30th Ibero‑American Summit in Madrid, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez denounced the United States for expanding sanctions that target Cuban trade and energy. He described the measures as an “energy blockade” and a “naval blockade,” calling for collective action within the Ibero‑American Community. The remarks came amid a period of tightened U.S. embargo and secondary sanctions on those doing business with Cuba, according to Cuban President Miguel Diaz‑Canel.
During the 30th Ibero‑American Summit held in Madrid, Spain, from November 4‑5, 2026, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez accused the United States of intensifying sanctions that he described as an energy blockade, as reported by Xinhua on November 5.
Rodríguez’s speech, delivered to the summit’s delegates, came after President Miguel Diaz‑Canel posted a social‑media message announcing that the Cuban foreign minister would address the gathering. In the address, Rodríguez reiterated Cuba’s commitment to Ibero‑American cooperation based on equality, sovereignty and mutual respect, while urging the region to push back against what he considered arbitrary external pressure.
Over the past 10 months, Cubans have endured an unprecedented tightening of the U.S. trade embargo, an energy blockade tantamount to a naval blockade, and secondary sanctions targeting individuals and organizations seeking to trade with the island.
Rodríguez went on to say, “The United States has pushed its obsessive war of economic strangulation against Cuba to inhumane levels of collective punishment.”
He called for measures in line with the founding principles of the Ibero‑American Community to counter the “abuse of power” and to support joint projects that promote sustainable development across the region.
Reactions and Regional Context
Cuban officials pointed out that the expanded U.S. sanctions target individuals and companies attempting to do business with Havana, thereby extending the embargo far beyond the original 1960s framework. The Cuban government warned that these new measures would hamper projects in energy, telecommunications and civil aviation.
The remarks emerged as Honduras was serving as the bloc’s pro‑tempore secretariat, a role that placed the country at the centre of the summit’s agenda on collective action against external pressures. Cuban officials reiterated their resolve to maintain “strengthening Ibero‑American cooperation” during this tenure.
Diaz‑Canel’s social‑media announcement underscored the significance of Rodríguez’s message, noting that the Cuban state had “endured an unprecedented tightening of U.S. sanctions.” The president called for solidarity among Ibero‑American nations to defend their sovereignty against what Cuba deemed an external “energy blockade.”
While the U.S. has traditionally maintained a comprehensive embargo against Cuba, the latest sanctions—labeled by Cuban officials as a “naval blockade” in their energy imports—represent a strategic shift. The Cuban foreign minister’s statements at the summit are expected to galvanize regional discussion on how best to counter the Umbrella of U.S. sanctions that increasingly pervade trade and energy sectors in the Americas.
As the summit concluded, Cuban officials reiterated that their stance against the United States sanctions is rooted in a desire to protect Cuban sovereignty, industrial capacity and the well‑being of the Cuban people. They also warned that continued U.S. pressure would force Cuba to strengthen ties with other nations that share its commitment to self‑determination.
