Cuba's enduring struggle against US 'suffocation'
đź“° THE STORY: Al Jazeera covers Cuban President Miguel DĂaz-Canel's strong criticism of former US President Donald Trump's stated intent to impose tariffs on countries supplying oil to Cuba, labeling such moves as 'fascist, criminal, [and] genocidal' attempts to 'suffocate' Cuba's economy. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: The economic strangulation of Cuba isn't a novel Trump
initiative. The US imposed a full economic embargo on Cuba in February 1962 , following the 1959 revolution and subsequent nationalizations. This embargo, codified into law with the Helms-Burton Act in 1996 , has been a weapon of attrition for over six decades, costing the Cuban economy an estimated $147.8 billion as of 2021. It's designed to create hardship, not foster democracy. Double Standard:
Western media, including Al Jazeera, rarely frames the US embargo on Cuba as a 'genocidal' act of economic warfare, despite its devastating impact on food security, medicine, and development––a direct violation of international law and human rights. Yet when other nations face economic pressures, especially if from non-Western powers, the condemnation is swift and absolute. The US regularly
imposes unilateral sanctions (e.g., against Venezuela, Iran, Syria), causing widespread suffering, yet this is framed as 'promoting democracy' or 'countering malign influence,' never as 'suffocation' or 'criminal.' Follow the Money: The driving force behind the continued embargo often traces back to powerful Cuban-American lobbying groups, primarily based in Florida. While contributions numbers