The United States Mission’ head, Michael Hammer, is the subject of a statement of protest from Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Hammer, a career diplomat, was accused of “unfriendly and meddling behavior” since arriving in Cuba in late 2024 by the Foreign Ministry in a press release released on Friday.
The Foreign Ministry wrote that the diplomat is engaging in provocative and irresponsible behavior by inciting Cuban citizens to commit egregious criminal offenses, attacking the constitutional order, or encouraging them to defy the authorities or demonstrate their support for a hostile foreign power’s interests and objectives.
The immunity he enjoys as a representative of his nation cannot be used as a shield against acts that defy the country’s sovereignty and internal order, as in this case, Cuba.
Alejandro Garcia del Toro, the Foreign Ministry’s director of bilateral affairs with the US, delivered the message, according to the ministry.
The statement released on Friday is just the latest sign of Cuba’s and US relations getting more tense, especially since President Donald Trump resigned from office in January.
tensions-related history
However, diplomatic ties between the two nations have been shaky for decades, dating back to the 1960s Cold War. The US government supported efforts to overthrow the newly established Communist government following the Cuban Revolution of 1959 and imposed stringent trade restrictions on the island.
However, efforts have been made to lessen the tensions, most notably during Obama and Joe Biden’s US administrations.
For instance, Obama attempted to normalize relations with Cuba in 2016, but those efforts were resisted during the first Trump administration, which started in 2017.
In the waning months of his term in January, President Biden removed Cuba from the list of “state sponsors of terrorism.”
Trump, however, reversed course on January 20 and placed Cuba back on the list that same day when he took office for a second time on January 20.
Trump’s presidential team also included former US Secretary of State Marco Rubio among other figures who have taken a harsh stance against Cuba. Rubio, who was born in Cuba, has a strong stance in favor of the island’s continued trade embargo.
Meanwhile, the Cuban government has continued to accuse the US of trying to destabilize its leadership.
Hammer’s recent visit to Jose Marti’s tomb was accused of “public and insulting manipulation,” according to the Cuban Foreign Ministry’s statement on Friday.
In a voiceover of Marti’s words, “Respect for the freedom and thoughts of others, even of the most unhappy kind, is my passion: If I die or am killed, it will be for that. That citation, according to critics, is meant as an implied support of island dissention.
Increasing pressure
In a return to the “maximum pressure” campaigns that characterized foreign policy during his first term, there have also been indications that Trump intends to tighten the screws on the Cuban government once more in recent months.
For instance, the Trump administration announced in February that it would yank visas from anyone who works for Cuba’s medical system, which sends thousands of healthcare workers abroad annually, especially in the Caribbean.
The healthcare program has received criticism for its high salaries and stringent employee restrictions. Meanwhile, Trump and Rubio have asserted that the Cuban government is benefiting from the medical system as a form of “forced labor.” However, Havana’s leaders refute that claim.
The US government then criticized Cuba for bringing back a group of dissidents, including famous people like Felix Navarro and Jose Daniel Ferrer, in April.
In a deal brokered by the Vatican earlier this year, Cuba had initially agreed to let Ferrer and Navarro go.
Cuba was supposed to release 553 of its prisoners, many of whom had been ensnared in anti-government demonstrations, and the US was supposed to ease its sanctions against the island in exchange. However, the relief from the sanctions was never implemented.
This month only, a further measure was implemented against Cuba. Under Rubio’s direction, the US Department of State determined that “Cuba did not fully cooperate with US counterterrorism efforts in 2024.” It claimed that Cuba was home to 11 fugitives, some of whom were facing US terrorism-related charges.
In a press release, the State Department stated that “the Cuban regime made clear that it was not willing to discuss their return to face justice in our country.” The United States will continue to support international cooperation on counterterrorism issues. We also continue to advocate for international organizations that “do not stand up for terrorism.”
Under the Arms Export Control Act, which restates Cuba’s ability to purchase weapons and other defense equipment from the US, Cuba was punished by being labeled as a “not fully cooperating country.”
Additionally, Hammer had just announced that the island would face additional sanctions.
Source: Aljazeera
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