Trump Threatens Cuba with Tighter Embargo for Aiding Venezuela
HAVANA TIMES – US President Donald Trump accused Cuba of carrying out military operations in Venezuela to support Nicolas Maduro and threatened to impose a raft of tough sanctions on the island if it does not withdraw.
“If Cuban Troops and Militia do not immediately CEASE military and other operations for the purpose of causing death and destruction to the Constitution of Venezuela, a full and complete [..] embargo, together with highest-level sanctions, will be placed on the island of Cuba,” Trump tweeted.
“Hopefully, all Cuban soldiers will promptly and peacefully return to their island!”
Cuba denies troop presence in Venezuela, calls Bolton ‘liar’
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez has reiterated that Cuba has no troops in Venezuela, after US President Donald Trump threatened the island with more sanctions over troop presence.
Rodriguez called US National Security Adviser John Bolton “a pathological liar” who “misinforms” Trump.
“There are no Cuban troops in Venezuela; nor are there any Cubans taking part in military or security operations there. Only medical staff in humanitarian mission,” he tweeted.
Trump earlier threatened Cuba with a “full and complete … embargo” and with “highest-level sanctions” unless it immediately ceased “military and other operations for the purpose of causing death and destruction to the Constitution of Venezuela.”
Rodriguez said he “strongly” rejected “Trump’s total blockade threat.”
You missed a couple of words in your first sentence Nick: …..in the USA and Cuba, The need in Cuba is more urgent than that of the US. Cuba is a totalitarian dictatorship and as I have commented repeatedly in these pages, I detest dictatorship whether by the communist left or the fascist right – but have noted that you have never agreed.
Yésica retired from a company three years ago that paid even dental insurance now i have medical insurances provide for the USA government, I’m Black Afro Cuban to be more PC , I can read any publication or book I want, I can travel anywhere in the world, I can be part or any political organization and not be afraid to get in prison for, I can march down to the street with a sign and not get arrested I can say what is in my mind, and on on, and honestly I even lived in one point in my life in Texas and never felt discrimination by anglos
only by the Mexican that never had seen a black speaking Spanish. I would never give what I have produced by my hard work that a life in Cuba. 39 years in exile and I can’t even return to a place I was born because Castro’s family control the island like their own Rancho do you know that in order for me be allowed to enter I have to get a Cuban passport? $400. And then ask for a visa to enter the country I was born. $200. Please be my guest and become Cuban and live like one then. Tell me who is a bully. Have a great life.
Currently Cury the US only has an embargo on Cuba affecting a limited number of products. You ask what else is there to do? Obviously a lot more is possible by increasing the number of products listed, tighter rules on financial transfers, preventing the export of food from the US to Cuba, or even ultimately a blockade. If you care to read the US Cuban Democracy Act, you would find that its purpose was regime change, the introduction of multi-party democracy, freedom of the media and human rights – all of which objectives were admirable, but none of which were achieved.
US presidents have supported the embargo since it was introduced, but do not themselves have the power to remove it – that takes Congress!
I suggest that rather than just letting blast at your current president, that you study the Act.
Regime Change is indeed urgently needed…..
In the USA.
The USA is run by a regime led by compulsive liars.
Contrary to what seems to be occurring in Venezuela, I confidently predict that if the Liar-in-Cheif-trump pushed it too far, then the majority of the various branches of the powerful US military would join forces and step down righteously upon him.
Olgasintanales
I am Gerald S. a Canadian who goes to Havana every 6 weeks because of my connection to caring for two families who were strangers to me before that time since I had met then 7 years ago.
You say that you are glad to live in the USA because of getting basic Human Rights. Correct? So I am assuming that you are working with a company who pays your medical insurance. If you did not have anyone to do this for you, you would be in the street crying and asking for compassion when it comes to receiving medical care. I doubt that you would be without anything when it comes to seeing a Dr and getting good care. Also at least the people there get something from the Government if they are not working or unable to work. It may be little but its more than the NOTHING that you get from the Government of USA. Especially if you are a Latino. There is so much racism in the USA against the Latin Race. I cant imagine a Latin person living in the USA would agree with Trump. The only reason why he is pissed because The Russians are calling the way in Venz. He is a bully more than Fidel or Raul could ever be. I would rather live in Cuba any day. Oh yes, I did live in the USA for 3 years and when I place my feel on Canadian soil after a week long visit to the USA, I feel like someone took a million lbs of my shoulders because of the Harassments that they do on common people. And I am White, Irish background and not a Black or other color person living in the USA.
I am unaware of any Cuban military as such, being in Venezuela, but have little doubt that there are “advisers”. Cuba has an obvious interest in supporting the Maduro regime which supplies so much of its energy requirements. As for Bruno Rodriguez, he describes the Cuban medical personnel in Venezuela as being on a “humanitarian mission” whereas in reality they are there as part of a commercial project along with educational staff. He is well qualified to suggest that Bolton “misinforms” Trump,having much experience of the use of misinformation himself. Belts have been tightening in Cuba for the last six months with steadily declining supplies of foodstuffs in the shops (but ample supplies of imported beer) but there is a justified fear that loss of support by the Maduro regime would result in severe economic problems, leaving Cuba dependent upon Chinese support ie: credit. The difficulty for China is that during the last year it’s foreign debts have exceeded its foreign credits and Xi will be very careful as he doesn’t want to further aggravate Trump. Loss of food supplies from the US would be serious, but Trump is well aware of the US farm lobby, which would decry such action.
The Cuban people will suffer the consequences of the end of the Maduro regime, but that will only concern the Castro regime economically, not for any of Bruno’s “humanitarian” reasons.
One wonders what will happen to such organizations as CELAC, ALBA and “socialist” puppet TeleSurTV, when Maduro goes. The joint offices shared between Havana and Caracas will obviously be imperiled.
It’s not up to the US to instill regime change in Cuba. The Cuban people have to do it themselves. Cuba is no threat to the US and that deranged lunatic and his accomplices need to BUT OUT!
Regime change in Cuba would be great for the Cuban people after 60 years of repression and lack of basic human rights. Believe me i was born in there and exile for 39 years.
The US already has a full embargo on Cuba. What else is there to do? This is nothing but a plot for regime change in Cuba by Trump, Bolton, and Rubio. Trump doesn’t have the balls to confront Russia who is the real culprit by convincing Maduro to stay after he was about to fly to Cuba. They figure the easiest way to look tough is to bully Cuba. I am so ashamed to live in a country headed by that disgusting animal that some call a president.