Cuba and the 'blockade': what the left doesn't tell you about the US economic embargo

The left's favorite argument for supporting Cuba's communist dictatorship is to blame all of that country's ills on a "blockade" by the United States.

Historic demonstrations in Cuba against the communist dictatorship and asking for Freedom
Socialists and communists vote against a condemnation of political persecution in Cuba

The left's thesis on the US "blockade" of Cuba

According to the left's narrative, if there is misery and a lack of freedom in Cuba, it is not because Cubans have been suffering under a communist dictatorship for 62 years, but because the United States is suffocating its economy with a "blockade." This word leads many to believe that Cuba is little more than surrounded by US warships that prevent all kinds of international trade with Cuba (that is a "blockade" according to the RAE), but the reality is very different.

The origin of the US embargo on that communist regime

What the United States imposes on Cuba is not a blockade, but an economic embargo, under which U.S. companies cannot trade with Cuba. This measure was not imposed arbitrarily. The embargo was established because of the communist regime's seizure of assets belonging to U.S. companies in Cuba. Unlike other countries, the United States has a long-standing tradition of protecting the rights of its citizens both within and beyond its borders, and what it did was sanction the Castro regime for literally stealing from U.S. citizens.

Does this embargo affect the supply of medicines and food?

Another myth surrounding the so-called "blockade" is attributing the lack of medicines and medical supplies in Cuba to the United States. One of the U.S. laws that regulate this embargo, the Cuba Democracy Act of 1992, expressly prohibits "restrictions on the export to Cuba of medicines, subject to specified conditions and inspection requirements." Furthermore, the aforementioned law states: "Declares that food, medicine, and medical supplies for humanitarian purposes should be made available to Cuba", subject to three conditions:

1. That the Cuban government "has made a commitment to hold free and fair elections for a new government within six months and is proceeding to implement that decision."
2. That the Cuban government "has made a commitment to respect and is respecting human rights and basic democratic freedoms."
3. That the Cuban government "is not providing weapons or funds to any group in any other country that seeks the violent overthrow of the government of such country", referring to the United States.

The conditions that the US is setting for the Cuban dictatorship to lift that embargo

The same US law states that "waives sanctions against Cuba under this Act if the President reports to the Congress that Cuba" meets these conditions:

1. "has held free and fair elections conducted under internationally recognized observers."
2. "has permitted opposition parties ample time to campaign for such elections and has permitted full access to the media to all candidates."
3. "mis showing respect for basic civil liberties and human rights."
4. "is moving toward establishing a free market economic system."
5. "has committed itself to constitutional change that would ensure regular free and fair elections."

The communist dictatorship of Cuba has not met any of these conditions because it puts its hold on power above human rights, well-being and the health of Cuban citizens themselves.

Cuba's trade relations with other countries

To the above, it should be added that the US economic embargo does not prevent Cuba from trading with other countries. The largest destination for Cuban exports is another communist dictatorship: China, which receives 38.2% of the total. Significantly, the second largest destination is Spain, with 10.5%, which is also the main source of Cuban imports, at 19.2%. This may explain—beyond ideological affinities with the far left—why so many political parties, organizations, media outlets, and institutions in our country are determined to turn a blind eye to the human rights violations committed by this anti-democratic regime: there are powerful economic interests in Spain that support this dictatorship.

Cuba's trade deficit and growing debt

To all of the above, we must add the effects of the communist economic model itself. The Cuban economy is increasingly unproductive and dependent on imports of foreign products. In 2020, the value of its exports was €1,911.2 million, while its imports totaled €7,039.1 million. That is, the value of its imports is 3.6 times that of its exports. This trade deficit translates into growing national debt, a loss of value for its national currency, and increased dependence on foreign currency. This situation has worsened with the pandemic and the loss of income from tourism.

The effects of Cuba defaulting on its debt payments: shortages

To this must be added that Cuba has been systematically defaulting on all payments of its external debt, and this despite the generous debt forgiveness (in May 2016 the Rajoy government, of the PP, forgave it 1,492 million euros). This, obviously, has negative consequences for Cuban imports: Cuba's debt has a terrible rating, which ultimately leads to supply shortages.

The only "blockade" in Cuba is the one imposed by the dictatorship.

Therefore, what Cuba is suffering is not a consequence of any foreign "blockade." The misery and shortages that Cubans endure have one cause: the communist dictatorship. The same dictatorship that represses them for protesting this situation they are suffering, and which has been ruling their lives for 62 years with a one-party regime and without free elections. The only "blockade" in Cuba, the one that plunges Cubans into misery and oppression, is the one imposed by the communist dictatorship against its own people, and this blockade has a staunch defender in the Spanish far left.

The political and economic interests that support that dictatorship from Spain

Those who blame the situation in Cuba on a US "blockade" actually want Cuba to remain a dictatorship. They don't want the Cuban people to enjoy the same rights and freedoms as we do, the same political pluralism we have, and the right to freely elect their leaders. The most disgusting thing is that some in Spain want Cuba to stay this way because if it were to democratize, the US would once again become the island's main trading partner, and many Spanish companies would surely see a decline in their export markets. One might wonder how many far-left parties that support that dictatorship are paid by companies that don't want anything to change in Cuba.