Two Democratic US lawmakers, Pramila Jayapal of Washington and Jonathan Jackson of Illinois, have called for an end to the ‘cruel collective punishment’ of Cuba after visiting the island and witnessing the effects of the US energy blockade, according to The Guardian. The lawmakers made the statement following a five-day trip to Cuba that concluded on Sunday.

Cuba’s Leaders Criticize Blockade’s Impact

Jayapal and Jackson met with Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez, and members of Cuba’s parliament during their visit. In a joint statement released on Sunday, they described the US energy blockade as ‘effectively an economic bombing of the infrastructure of the country’ that has caused ‘permanent damage.’

Cuban President Díaz-Canel took to X to denounce the ‘criminal damage’ caused by the blockade, particularly the consequences of the energy siege imposed by the current US government. He emphasized that his government remains open to a ‘serious and responsible bilateral dialogue’ to address existing differences.

Trump’s Stance and Ongoing Talks

Donald Trump has previously signaled a potential ‘friendly takeover’ of Cuba, while Díaz-Canel has sought economic cooperation without compromising Cuba’s sovereignty. High-level talks between the United States and Cuba are currently ongoing, led by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. These discussions follow a US oil blockade initiated after the American president issued executive orders threatening tariffs on nations supplying fuel to Cuba in January.

The blockade intensified after the US attacked Venezuela in early January and seized its leader, Nicolás Maduro. This action led to acute fuel shortages in Cuba, causing national blackouts, gasoline shortages, rationing, reduced public transport, and cuts in working hours. The situation also paralyzed hospitals and surgeries and caused the suspension of flights.

Relaxation of Policy and Humanitarian Concerns

A sanctioned Russian oil tanker, the Anatoly Kolodkin, was permitted to dock at Cuba’s Matanzas oil terminal on 30 March and unloaded 700,000 barrels of crude. Experts estimate that this shipment could produce about 180,000 barrels of diesel, enough to meet Cuba’s daily demand for nine or 10 days. This appears to be a relaxation of US policy.

Jayapal told reporters at the end of her and Jackson’s visit that Cuba’s recent steps—such as opening the economy to certain investments by Cuban Americans living abroad and the announcement that more than 2,000 prisoners would be pardoned—’indicate that the moment is here for us to have a real negotiation between the two countries and to reverse the failed US policy of decades.’

Jayapal described the policy as ‘a cold war remnant that no longer serves the American people or the Cuban people’ and called the oil shipment—a second is expected soon—a temporary solution. She said, ‘We need a longer, permanent solution for the Cuban people and the American people.’

Jackson compared the oil blockade of Cuba to restrictions on oil passing through the Strait of Hormuz. He called Cuba ‘the most sanctioned part of Earth’ and said, ‘Our government is fighting to keep the Strait of Hormuz open so there is a free flow of oil around the world. We want, for humanitarian reasons, a free flow of oil, fuel, and energy in our own hemisphere.’

In a March post on X, Jackson criticized Trump’s ‘cruel blockade,’ stating it has ‘collectively punished the Cuban people and led to inhumane conditions.’ He called for the lifting of the embargo and greater economic cooperation with Cuba.

Jackson added that for more than 60 years, the US has imposed a ‘counterproductive embargo’ that has caused pain to generations of Cubans and further eroded their pursuit of freedom. He stated that ‘Cubans deserve to decide their own future—not wannabe colonizers like Donald Trump.’