Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

A woman takes a towel from her clothes line in a vacant lot in Havana on May 18, 2026. Cuba's leader warned on May 18 of a "bloodbath" in the event of an American attack, while the US Treasury sanctioned Cuba's main intelligence agency and top leaders as tensions spiked between the arch-foes. Photo by Yamil Lage/AFP/File

Article (news)

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1779837416055Screen Shot 2026-05-27 at 7.16.28 AM.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A woman takes a towel from her clothes line in a vacant lot in Havana on May 18, 2026. Cuba&#x27;s leader warned on May 18 of a &quot;bloodbath&quot; in the event of an American attack, while the US Treasury sanctioned Cuba&#x27;s main intelligence agency and top leaders as tensions spiked between the arch-foes<em>. Photo by Yamil Lage/AFP/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>UNITED NATIONS, United States — Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla asked the international community for urgent help to prevent disaster in his country, which is under a US energy blockade, in a speech to the UN Security Council on Tuesday.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/5/19/cuba-warns-of-bloodbath-if-us-attacks-washington-adds-sanctions-1000?obOrigUrl=true">Cuba warns of &#x27;bloodbath&#x27; if US attacks; Washington adds sanctions</a></div><p>&quot;I call on the international community to mobilize to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe that could be imposed through arms or the fuel blockade,&quot; Rodriguez said.</p><p>He added, &quot;now should be the time for solidarity with Cuba.&quot;</p><p>US President Donald Trump has openly mused about taking over communist Cuba, saying that after the US attack in January that ousted Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela, Havana could be his next target for military action and big change.</p><p>Due in part to a US trade embargo imposed after Fidel Castro came to power in 1959, Cubans have suffered dire economic conditions for years, with shortages of food, medicine and other basics. Nationwide power blackouts are common.</p><p>Things got worse when Trump cut off the supply of oil from Havana&#x27;s ally Venezuela after the ouster of Maduro.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/3/17/trump-vows-to-take-cuba-as-island-reels-from-oil-embargo-0843">Trump vows to &#x27;take&#x27; Cuba as island reels from oil embargo</a></div><p>The Trump administration tightened the screws last week by indicting Raul Castro over the downing of two small US-based planes in 1996, fueling fears the United States was seeking a pretext to overthrow the government in Havana.</p><p>The day after the Castro indictment was announced, Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Cuba that the United States was laser-focused on changing the communist system.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/2/16/in-fuel-starved-cuba-the-e-tricycle-is-king-0854">In fuel-starved Cuba, the e-tricycle is king</a></div><p>On Tuesday, Rodriguez called the indictment politically motivated and denied US allegations that Cuba poses a national security threat to the United States.</p><p>&quot;It is an idea that goes against logic and common sense,&quot; he told the council. &quot;Let Cuba live in peace.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pDJPcDGUX0M?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JJ9djyZvhpk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5VQAiU1gGas?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Due in part to a US trade embargo imposed after Fidel Castro came to power in 1959, Cubans have suffered dire economic conditions for years, with shortages of food, medicine and other basics.</p>

Due in part to a US trade embargo imposed after Fidel Castro came to power in 1959, Cubans have suffered dire economic conditions for years, with shortages of food, medicine and other basics.

Under US pressure, Cuba appeals for international help

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Under US pressure, Cuba appeals for international help

Agence France-Presse

Published May 27, 2026 07:23 AM PHT

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Agence France-Presse

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