Russia Doubles Down on Cuba Support Amid U.S. Tariff Threats
The Russian Foreign Ministry released a statement confirming that Lavrov and Bruno Eduardo Rodriguez Parrilla, Cuba's top diplomat, addressed key bilateral matters and broader global issues during their exchange.
"The Russian side reaffirmed its principled position regarding the unacceptability of economic and military pressure on Cuba, including the disruption of energy supplies to the island, which threatens to seriously worsen the economic and humanitarian situation in the country," according to the ministry's readout.
Moscow signaled its intention to maintain assistance to the Caribbean nation, with the statement noting a "firm commitment" to continue providing Cuba with the "necessary political and material support" emerged from the discussion. The diplomats also coordinated their calendar for future high-level engagements.
The conversation followed last week's action by US President Donald Trump, who issued an executive directive invoking emergency powers and creating a framework to levy tariffs against nations supplying petroleum to Cuba.
A White House briefing document explained the measure aims to safeguard American national security and foreign policy priorities by applying economic leverage over what Washington describes as its "malign actions and policies."
Trump's Thursday directive empowers Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to take "all necessary actions," including issuing rules and guidance, to implement the tariff system and related measures.
"The president may modify the order if Cuba or affected countries take significant steps to address the threat or align with US national security and foreign policy objectives," the directive states.
The Kremlin rejected Washington's approach, asserting its opposition to one-sided punitive actions targeting sovereign nations and labeling such tactics as "categorically unacceptable."
"We strongly condemn the illegitimate prohibitive measures against Havana and the pressure on the Cuban leadership and citizens," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova declared Saturday. She expressed confidence that Cuba would sustain productive international economic partnerships "despite the external obstacles to its development."
Washington's trade restrictions against the island commenced in 1960 and underwent multiple expansions over the decades. While modifications in 2000 permitted food and humanitarian shipments to Cuba, the bulk of American commercial activity with the nation remains banned.
Rubio, whose parents left Cuba for the United States during the 1950s, has declined to dismiss the possibility of American involvement in facilitating political transition within the country.
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