The Cuban government has admitted its inability to meet the basic needs of its population, including healthcare, food, energy, and transportation. Despite its growing discredit, the regime continues to blame the "genocidal blockade" by the United States.
In an interview with Cuban Television, Johana Tablada de la Torre, Deputy Director General of the U.S. Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX), revealed the regime's concerns about the worsening public services in Cuba.
"These inhumane, cruel measures are putting us in an unprecedented situation where we are unable to meet the basic needs of our population across all sectors, including transportation, food, and wages," admitted Tablada de la Torre.
U.S. Sanctions and Cuban Public Services
Discussing the recent decision by the U.S. Department of State to remove Cuba from the list of countries that do not cooperate in the fight against terrorism, the diplomat expressed disappointment that Washington did not go further and remove Cuba from the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism. "This is more important because it brings coercive measures against the Cuban population," she lamented.
"They didn't do it because they didn't want to; they want to keep using the terrorism sponsor list as justification for unilateral coercive measures associated with the U.S. policy of strangling Cuba's economy and blaming Cuba for the impact of their measures," Tablada de la Torre asserted.
According to the senior MINREX official, the ultimate goal of the United States is "to take measures that prevent income from reaching our population, threaten the livelihood of the people for political destabilization and regime change, so people lack necessities, feel desperate, and then blame the Cuban government."
The diplomat added that this U.S. strategy is supported by "a well-funded systematic communication operation in the global mainstream media and digital platforms to blame the victim country for the impact of their [measures]."
This is not the first time Tablada de la Torre's statements have deviated from the regime's orthodox propaganda and its denunciations of the "blockade," inadvertently highlighting the regime's responsibility for the unprecedented socio-economic crisis in Cuba.
In mid-April, the diplomat described the current migration crisis as "the largest in Cuba's history," but blamed the U.S. government for the massive exodus that has driven hundreds of thousands of Cubans to leave the island.
"The impact of these extreme and inhumane measures on our population is the main incentive explaining the unprecedented increase in the current migratory flow, which is disproportionate and essentially the largest migratory wave in Cuba's history," she said.
When it's not "the blockade and additional maximum pressure measures," it's the "extraordinary and artificial incentives for Cuban emigration." The regime refuses to take responsibility for the exodus of hundreds of thousands of Cubans in recent years, dressing up various justifications for its survival plan and its "political project" to perpetuate itself in power.
"The 200,000 that the United States thought would come out to overthrow the government... emigrated," Tablada de la Torre told Russia Today last October, acknowledging with apparent satisfaction the regime's masterstroke to maintain the status quo, momentarily relieving pressure from a boiling pot in which Cubans continue to simmer.
Impact of U.S. Sanctions on Cuba
The following questions and answers address the impact of U.S. sanctions on Cuba and the regime's response.
How do U.S. sanctions affect Cuba's ability to provide basic services?
U.S. sanctions restrict Cuba’s access to international markets and financial systems, severely limiting its ability to import essential goods and resources needed for healthcare, food, energy, and transportation.
What is the Cuban government's stance on the U.S. State Sponsors of Terrorism list?
The Cuban government views its inclusion on the list as unjust and believes it is used by the U.S. to justify coercive measures aimed at destabilizing the Cuban economy and regime.
What has been the impact of the current migration crisis on Cuba?
The current migration crisis, described as the largest in Cuba's history, has led to the exodus of hundreds of thousands of Cubans, driven by economic hardship and restrictive measures imposed by the U.S.