Cuba declared an "international emergency" this week following renewed tariff threats from the United States, escalating tensions between the two nations. The announcement came after former U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on January 29, 2026, threatening tariffs on countries supplying oil to Cuba.
"This represents an unusual and extraordinary threat to international peace and security," Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez stated in a social media post on Friday. He attributed the crisis to what he called "anti-Cuban neo-fascist elements" within U.S. political circles.
The dispute centers on Trump's executive order authorizing punitive tariffs against nations engaging in energy trade with Cuba. Analysts suggest the move could disrupt Caribbean energy markets and complicate U.S. relations with third-party countries involved in regional oil commerce.
Rodriguez emphasized the broader implications, linking the economic measures to global challenges including nuclear proliferation and climate change mitigation efforts. The declaration marks Cuba's most significant diplomatic response to U.S. policy since the 2024 normalization talks stalled.
