Brazil

Spain, Brazil and Mexico issued a joint statement on Saturday pledging increased humanitarian aid to Cuba whereas condemning the US blockade as the root cause of the island’s worsening crisis.

The three nations, all led by leftist governments, called for sincere and respectful dialogue to resolve the situation and explicitly rejected any military intervention, insisting that Cuba’s future must be determined solely by its people.

The statement followed a summit in Barcelona hosted by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, which brought together progressive leaders from across the globe to defend multilateralism and democratic norms amid rising far-right challenges.

Attendees included Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Colombian President Gustavo Petro and German Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil, with video messages from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and US Senator Bernie Sanders.

Sánchez opened the IV Meeting in Defense of Democracy by declaring that democracy cannot be taken for granted, warning that the global far right “screams and shouts not because they are winning but because they grasp their time is running out.”

The joint statement from Mexico, Spain and Brazil emphasized that Cuba’s humanitarian crisis has been exacerbated by months of pressure from US President Donald Trump, including an oil blockade that has deepened the island’s economic and energy collapse.

Cuba has suffered widespread blackouts and shortages, conditions the three nations attribute directly to US sanctions, which they say violate international law and deepen suffering without justification.

While avoiding direct naming of the United States in their official appeal, the three countries made clear that the crisis stems from external coercion, particularly Trump’s repeated threats to invade Cuba and his designation of the island as “next” after actions against Venezuela, and Iran.

Trump has floated the idea of “taking” Cuba since launching military action against Iran on February 28, a remark that has heightened regional alarm despite no concrete operational steps being confirmed.

The blockade has restricted fuel imports, crippling power generation and transportation, and contributing to what the Guardian described as Cuba’s worst economic and energy crisis in decades.

Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued the joint statement, framing the call for dialogue as consistent with international law and aimed at achieving a lasting solution that preserves Cuban sovereignty.

The Barcelona summit served as both a diplomatic platform and a political signal, uniting leaders critical of Trump’s foreign policy, including his withdrawal from multilateral agreements and his conduct of wars without broad international consensus.

Sánchez, a vocal critic of Trump’s Iran policy and US-Israeli actions in the Middle East, has previously refused to allow American forces to use Spanish bases for operations against Iran, a decision that drew direct rebuke from the US president.

Trump has also criticized Spain for failing to meet NATO defense spending targets, specifically condemning Sánchez for resisting efforts to raise military expenditure from 2% to 5% of GDP.

The convergence of humanitarian concern and geopolitical positioning underscores how the Cuba issue has become a focal point for broader tensions between progressive governments and the Trump administration’s assertive foreign policy stance.

While the aid pledge lacks specific financial commitments or timelines, the political alignment signals a coordinated effort to counter perceived US aggression through diplomatic and humanitarian channels rather than confrontation.

For Cuba, the immediate priority remains alleviating acute shortages of food, medicine and electricity, with international aid seen as critical to preventing further deterioration in public health and social stability.

The long-term resolution, according to the joint statement, depends on sustained dialogue that respects Cuba’s right to self-determination—a principle the three nations say must guide any international engagement.

What specific actions have Spain, Brazil and Mexico committed to regarding Cuba?

They have pledged to boost humanitarian aid efforts and called for sincere, respectful dialogue to address the crisis, while rejecting military intervention and affirming that Cuba’s future must be decided by its own people.

How does the US blockade affect daily life in Cuba?

The blockade has restricted fuel imports, leading to massive nationwide blackouts and worsening shortages of food and medicine, contributing to what leaders describe as a grave humanitarian and energy crisis.