Cuba’s Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, denounced on 23 July via his account on the social media platform X the new measures announced by the United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. In his message, the head of Cuban diplomacy described these actions as an «act of aggression» and a «collective punishment» against the entire Cuban people.

«Every act of aggression by the #US government, such as the measures announced this 23 July by the Secretary of State, demonstrates that the objective is to impose a collective punishment against the entire Cuban people,» affirmed Rodríguez Parrilla.

The Foreign Minister denounced that, although the US government insists on denying the existence of the economic siege, «it is becoming increasingly difficult for them to hide their genocidal intentions and their aim to provoke a humanitarian crisis.»

The new sanctions, imposed under Executive Order 14404, include nine entities and two Cuban officials. Among the targets are Comercializadora de Servicios Médicos Cubanos S.A. (CSMC), the Central Unit for Medical Cooperation (UCCM) and its director, Gretza Sánchez Padrón, as well as the Minister of Public Health, José Ángel Portal Miranda.

In this regard, the head of Cuban diplomacy stated: «The attack on Cuban medical cooperation amounts to an aggression against the human right to access health services for hundreds of thousands of people in many parts of the world.» He added that «they punish Cuba for providing a humane and solidary service that has been recognised by the international community.»

In his statements, Rodríguez Parrilla highlighted the paradox that this action comes «from the government of the richest country in the world, intent on denying that elementary human right to tens of millions of its own citizens.»