On the Telegram platform, the high-ranking diplomat stated that Rubio repeatedly claims, with the ease afforded by media attention and his capacity for lying, that “his government is not blocking the entry of oil into Cuba.”

Rodriguez emphasized that the high-ranking US official seems to be intentionally forgetting Executive Order 14380 of January 29, 2016, “designed by him and signed by his President.”

He affirmed that this order authorized the imposition of punitive tariffs on imports from countries that, directly or indirectly, supply oil to Cuba.

The Cuban foreign minister asked: “Isn’t that blocking oil from entering Cuba? How can you call for economic coercion by a third party to stop trading with us?”

He indicated that this is “a blockade that doesn’t need military means off our coast if it manages to achieve its objective through the harshest pressure and blackmail.”

The head of state pointed out that this “political blindness” adds to the coercive measures applied in recent weeks against the island, designed to harm the Cuban people, who heroically confront them and will overcome them.

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