Cuba says US sanctions block thousands of cargo shipments

The Cuban government has stated that more than 7,000 containers of cargo destined for the island have been blocked or delayed at international ports due to US sanctions. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Trade Oscar Perez-Oliva Fraga said the containers were purchased legally in accordance with international trade regulations. The delayed cargo includes food, resources for repairing the national energy grid, drinking water supplies and essential medicines. Fraga attributed the delays to intensified US sanctions, saying the pressure has steadily increased since the beginning of the year on top of an existing ‘energy siege’. Earlier this month, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez described the US embargo as an ‘act of war’, claiming it is causing severe hardship for the Cuban population. Cuba has been mired in a deep economic crisis for the past six years, characterised by widespread blackouts, shortages of basic goods, declining production, high inflation and a weakening peso. Cuban officials have long blamed US sanctions for the country’s economic woes, while Washington insists its measures target the Cuban government and associated entities rather than ordinary citizens.