On Twitter, the Cuban permanent representative to this multilateral organization shared a link in which one can find a collection of declassified documents from the US National Security Archive.

The origin, justification and early evolution of Washington’s punitive sanctions after the triumph of the Revolution led by Fidel Castro are recorded in these documents.

They show that the initial US concept of economic pressure was to create “hardship” and “disenchantment” among the Cuban population.

From the beginning, the blockade was intended to refuse the provision of money and supplies to Cuba, reduce salaries, bring about hunger, dispair and the overthrow of the government, according to the files . However, a case study by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) on the blockade written 20 years after its imposition concluded that these sanctions had not met any of their goals.

On Feb.3, 1962, then US President John F. Kennedy signed Execuitve Order 3447, which formalized the economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba.

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