Canada plans to assist Cuba while Washington squeezes the island

OTTAWA – Canada said on Feb 23 it plans to provide assistance to Cuba while the island grapples with fuel shortages after the US moved to choke off Cuba’s oil supplies.

Washington has escalated a pressure campaign against the communist-run island and long-time US foe in recent weeks.

US President Donald Trump’s administration has moved to block all oil from reaching Cuba, including that from ally Venezuela, pushing up prices for food and transport and prompting severe fuel shortages and hours of blackouts.

“We are preparing a plan to assist. We are not prepared at this point to provide any further details of an announcement,” Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand said on Feb 23, without detailing what such assistance will include.

The UN has warned that if Cuba’s energy needs are not met, it could cause a humanitarian crisis. Canada said last week it is monitoring the situation in Cuba and is concerned about “the increasing risk of a humanitarian crisis” there.

Emboldened by the US military’s seizure of ousted Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro in a deadly raid in January, Mr Trump has repeatedly talked of acting against Cuba and pressuring its leadership.

Washington and Ottawa have also had tensions under Mr Trump over issues such as trade tariffs, Mr Trump’s rhetoric towards Greenland, Ottawa’s attempt to warm ties with Beijing and Prime Minister Mark Carney’s remarks that “middle powers” should act together to avoid being victimised by US hegemony.

Mr Trump has said “Cuba will be failing pretty soon”, adding that Venezuela, once the island’s top supplier, has not recently sent oil or money to Cuba.

The UN human rights office has said the US raid in which Maduro was seized is a violation of international law. Human rights experts have cast Mr Trump’s foreign policy and his focus on exploiting Venezuelan oil and squeezing Cuba as echoing an imperialist approach. REUTERS