Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump has declared a national emergency over the “unusual and extraordinary threat” posed by the Cuban government and ordered the creation of a new tariff system that could penalize countries supplying oil to the island.
In an executive order signed at the White House, Trump stated that the Cuban government’s policies, practices, and actions threaten the national security and foreign policy of the United States and necessitate emergency measures under existing law.
“As President of the United States, it is my solemn duty to protect the national security and foreign policy of this country,” Trump said, adding that the situation with respect to Cuba “constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat, the source of which is wholly or largely outside the United States.”
The order accuses Havana of aligning with and supporting “numerous hostile states, international terrorist groups, and malign actors opposed to the United States,” including Russia, China, Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah.
Trump stated that Cuba “openly harbors dangerous enemies of the United States,” inviting them to establish “sophisticated military and intelligence capabilities” on Cuban territory that “directly threaten the national security of the United States.”
He cited what the order describes as Russia’s largest foreign signals intelligence facility operating in Cuba and said the island continues to cultivate “deep intelligence and defense cooperation” with China.
The executive order further alleges that Cuba welcomes international terrorist groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas, providing them with a “safe environment” to build economic, cultural, and security ties throughout the region and attempt to destabilize the Western Hemisphere, including the United States.
According to the order, Cuba has long provided defense, intelligence, and security assistance to adversaries in the Western Hemisphere, with the aim of undermining U.S. and international sanctions designed to maintain regional stability, the rule of law, and U.S. national security interests. Beyond security relations, Trump accused Cuba’s communist government of supporting terrorism and destabilizing the region through migration and violence, while simultaneously repressing its own population.
The order stated, “The communist regime persecutes and tortures its political opponents; denies the Cuban people freedom of speech and of the press; corruptly profits from their suffering; and violates other human rights.” It also cited retaliation against families of political prisoners, persecution of religious worshippers, restrictions on civil society, suppression of the independent press, and limitations on freedom of expression, including online. Trump declared, “The United States will not tolerate the abuses of the communist Cuban regime,” and pledged to protect U.S. foreign policy, national security, and national interests, while remaining “committed to supporting the aspirations of the Cuban people for a free and democratic society.”
To address the declared national emergency, Trump ordered the establishment of a tariff system under which additional ad valorem duties could be imposed on imports from any foreign country that directly or indirectly sells or provides oil to Cuba.
Under the order, the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of State, will determine whether a foreign country is supplying oil to Cuba, including through intermediaries or third countries. Once such a determination is made, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretaries of the Treasury, Commerce, and Homeland Security, and the U.S. Trade Representative, will determine whether and to what extent additional duties should be imposed.
