The Cost of Trump's Pressure Campaign on Cuba

This episode of Deep Dish on Global Affairs examines the escalating U.S. pressure campaign on Cuba under the Trump administration, focusing on the humanitarian crisis unfolding on the island due to renewed economic sanctions, including an effective oil embargo and threats to cut remittances. Host Leslie Vingemori interviews Maria de los Angeles Torres, a leading expert on Latin America and Cuba, who argues that the U.S. strategy is inconsistent and driven more by political optics than coherent policy. She contends that sanctions have not led to democratic change but instead empower Cuba’s military elite by creating black-market economies and enabling state control over essential imports. While protests have intensified, particularly in Havana, the Cuban government responds with arrests and repression, deflecting blame onto the U.S. rather than addressing systemic failures. Torres highlights internal reformist voices within Cuba, such as writer Leonardo Padura, and stresses the need for multilateral diplomacy and humanitarian engagement. She warns that without lifting sanctions and offering real carrots—like asylum for political prisoners—the U.S. risks enabling further repression while failing to achieve its stated goals. Key takeaways include: 1) Sanctions often hurt civilians more than regimes; 2) The U.S. should lift sanctions to reduce the military’s economic power; 3) Multilateral diplomacy involving Canada, Spain, and Mexico is essential; 4) Humanitarian aid and safe haven for released political prisoners must be part of any strategy; 5) The Cuban government’s control over narratives and repression undermines democratic change. The episode concludes with a call for a more nuanced, compassionate, and globally coordinated approach to Cuba, one that prioritizes people over politics.