Cuba is suffocating under US sanctions

Donald Trump’s second administration has massively tightened the longstanding US stranglehold on Cuba. His escalating campaign of terror has brought the island’s health system to its knees, putting thousands of lives at risk. But many people around the world are refusing to just stand by and watch.

In recent days, Trump has insisted that:

I do believe I’ll be… having the honour of taking Cuba… Taking Cuba, I mean, whether I free it, take it. I think I can do anything I want with it.

And he’s promised that:

we’ll be doing something with Cuba very soon

Numerous social movements, humanitarian groups, trade unionists, and public figures have stepped up to try and scupper Trump’s plans, though.

These groups and individuals have built a coalition to send humanitarian supplies to Cuba, including medicine, food, and solar equipment. In particular, this aid seeks to support medical workers and their patients, while ensuring children have access to vital nutrition.

The first of the venture from the ‘Nuestra América Convoy‘ has already arrived on the island. And more will arrive in the coming days:

BREAKING 🇨🇺 The first delegation of the Nuestra América Convoy arrives to Havana. pic.twitter.com/WEaln5H84S

— Progressive International (@ProgIntl) March 18, 2026

¡Qué viva Cuba! 🇨🇺

The first delegation of the Nuestra América Convoy has arrived in Havana from Europe, carrying more than four tonnes of critical medical aid. pic.twitter.com/nFhQ74B2X2

— Progressive International (@ProgIntl) March 18, 2026

🇨🇺✊🏽 ¡Ya está en Cuba el Convoy Europeo con ayuda solidaria proveniente de Italia!

Un puente de esperanza que une pueblos y fortalece la solidaridad.

📷 Jorge Alejandro
✍️Tomado de Naturaleza Secreta de Cuba
#NuestraAmericaConvoy pic.twitter.com/jE5AlDg08G

— Mov. Mexicano de Solidaridad con Cuba 🇲🇽🇨🇺 (@_mmsc) March 18, 2026

Trump’s escalating stranglehold on Cuba

More than six decades of US “economic terrorism” have cost Cuba over $170bn. They haven’t just pushed people to leave their country. According to experts, such sanctions also have a similar effect to war, killing hundreds of thousands of people around the world every year, with many millions of deaths over recent decades.

Amid the ongoing failure of sanctions to topple Cuba’s government, the US started to change strategies under Barack Obama. But Trump’s first administration reversed that and doubled down on aggression.

Then, in 2025, Trump came into his second term seeking to ramp up this stranglehold with a new escalation of collective punishment. This has since sparked a crisis in Cuba’s health system, bringing it “to the brink of collapse”. And it has just forced a 29-hour nationwide energy blackout.

So far this year, Trump’s regime has gone after Cuba’s key lifelines:

His illegal abduction of Venezuela’s president in January severed the island’s access to its main ally in the region. And Venezuela’s new leadership has prioritised its own interests by giving the US what it wants. Trump followed this up by also bullying other nations into not supplying oil to Cuba.
He has targeted Cuba’s health support to nations around the world, which has long been its “main source” of hard cash. Alongside weak smears, he has bullied numerous Global South nations into cancelling their agreements with Cuba (despite local opposition). This has pushed the important programme into retreat.

Global criticism of US terror must turn into action

Nations around the world have overwhelmingly opposed US sanctions on Cuba for decades, regardless of whether their governments are left- or right-wing. Ordinary people in the US itself, meanwhile, strongly oppose using force against Cuba. They prefer diplomacy, and generally agree that sanctions are the wrong strategy.

Moving from criticism to action is not easy, and rarely happens. But the Nuestra América Convoy offers hope that people are increasingly willing to follow through:

As Donald Trump’s illegal siege plunges Cuba into darkness, the first convoy flight leaves from Milan.

On board: 220 suitcases packed with life-saving medicines. pic.twitter.com/rVNSmPEpWL

— Progressive International (@ProgIntl) March 17, 2026

We deeply appreciate @JeremyCorbyn and @ProgIntl for standing with the Cuban people. As the US escalates its cruel and inhumane blockade, global solidarity is our greatest weapon. We eagerly await the historic Nuestra América Convoy in Havana on March 21. Cuba is not alone! 🇨🇺 https://t.co/BGEARsYBSs

— Cuba in the UK (@EmbaCuba_UK) March 18, 2026

ANNOUNCEMENT 📢: NACLA is mobilizing to Cuba. 🇨🇺

This week, NACLISTAs will be taking part in the Nuestra América Convoy to Cuba, a humanitarian mission delivering critical supplies to a people under siege.

For decades, NACLA has covered the U.S. pressure campaign against… pic.twitter.com/gfrirkGFyN

— NACLA Report (@NACLA) March 17, 2026

We're busy packing suitcases of medical aid to bring to Cuba tomorrow. 🇮🇪 🇨🇺

GRMA to all who've assisted us source it (special thanks to Dr David Hickey).

The USA is illegally and savagely strangling the island and crippling its people. pic.twitter.com/EzIgQOgqda

— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) March 17, 2026

We head to Cuba later this week as part of an international solidarity group to bring critical medical aid for the Cuban people. 🇨🇺 🇮🇪

To everyone who has assisted us gathering it, GRMA, we will travel with over 200kg of critical medicines.

As the Taoiseach heads to… pic.twitter.com/F1MdrWAgPI

— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) March 16, 2026

Opposing Trump’s terror campaign against Cuba isn’t about whether you completely support its government or not. As with US-Israeli war crimes in Gaza, Iran, or Lebanon, it’s completely possible to oppose colonial violation of international law while also being fully aware of legitimate criticisms regarding the governments facing attacks.

The simple fact is that the US is using terror to ensure dominance for itself in the Americas (as it has for many decades), just as it’s been helping Israel to ensure its dominance in the Middle East through genocidal terror.

Trump is proudly displaying a brash imperialism that US leaders have historically hidden behind careful propaganda. And the world is increasingly aware of the danger of allowing this to continue.

But words aren’t enough. The world must also follow the example of the Nuestra América Convoy and turn criticism into firm action – for the sake of humanity.

Featured image via the Canary