Chinese Support for Cuba Amid US Sanctions

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez in Beijing on Thursday, extending China’s support following President Donald Trump’s executive order that labels the Cuban Communist Party as a national security threat.

Cuba has struggled with severe poverty and human rights violations for over fifty years, a direct result of the communist regime established by Fidel Castro in 1959. After the U.S. decided not to engage commercially with the island, Cuba managed to stay afloat thanks to financial assistance from European and Canadian tourists, support from countries like Venezuela, and past ties with the Soviet Union.

The Cuban government is reportedly on high alert after the U.S. arrested Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro on charges related to drug trafficking in January. Alongside plans to replace Maduro, Trump indicated a cooperative effort with his successor, Delcy Rodriguez, aiming to revive the U.S. interests in Venezuela’s oil sector, which has faced devastation.

Venezuela, similarly, has grappled with widespread poverty, significantly influenced by its socialist government. The country had been supplying oil to Cuba, but Trump noted that U.S. control over these resources has now diminished what Cuba depended on.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated, “There is no more oil or money going to Cuba, no more! I urge you to reach a deal before it’s too late.”

In response to increasing pressure, the Cuban Communist Party has issued an executive order to impose sanctions on third-party entities engaged with Cuba and is seeking financial backing from its traditional allies. Rodriguez’s recent discussions with senior Chinese officials in Beijing aimed to address this situation.

Chinese representatives asserted their support for Cuba against foreign interference, though they did not commit to providing material assistance. Wang seemed to suggest that their help would only be what China is capable of offering, a rather confusing stance given China’s prominent economic status. When asked about Rodriguez’s visit, China’s Foreign Ministry opted for a non-committal response, keeping the support tone rather cautious.

One independent media outlet described China’s support as “lukewarm.” Notably, Maduro had met with Chinese officials shortly before his arrest, highlighting the close ties between the two governments.

Since the rise of Hugo Chávez in Venezuela in 1999, Cuba has heavily relied on Venezuelan oil. Chávez’s government altered the entire framework of the prior democratic system, supplying Cuba with oil in exchange for its political assistance and intelligence. Recent reports have revealed Cuba’s involvement in supporting Maduro’s regime against political opposition. The night of Maduro’s arrest was marked by violence, with reports of Cuban soldiers being killed, although the circumstances remain unclear.

Following Maduro’s arrest, Cuba declared preparations for a “state of war,” hinting at potential confrontations with the U.S. The Communist Party’s media has made aggressive statements reflecting this sentiment. Moreover, an orchestrated event recently targeted the U.S. Chargé d’Affaires in Havana.

On January 30, Trump declared a national emergency, calling attention to the Cuban regime’s actions. The executive order indicated a movement to hold Cuba accountable for its support of terrorism and forces threatening U.S. national security.

With the existing embargo limiting U.S. business dealings with Cuba, the order primarily targets countries that, directly or indirectly, support Cuba’s oil supplies. As Venezuela withdraws its support, Mexico stands as a new potential target for these sanctions.

China’s state media published critiques of the U.S. actions, accusing it of attempting to discredit and isolate Cuba, but no substantial actions have been reported on China’s part to counter this narrative.