"Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez accused the United States before the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Tuesday of attempting to provoke a 'humanitarian catastrophe' in Cuba through its energy blockade. "The Executive Order of January 29 issued by the President of the United States declares collective punishment against the Cuban people," Rodriguez asserted. "Can a great power be allowed to attempt to destroy a small peaceful nation, [...] [and] subject a noble and supportive people to genocide under the crude pretext of national security?" "A dictatorship has emerged in the globalised world. The order born out of the Second World War, to prevent a third, is being dismantled and the philosophy of dispossession is being proclaimed as the exceptional and supreme right of the United States of America," he stressed. The foreign minister emphasised that the Cuban people will defend their sovereignty and right to self determination with 'the greatest vigour and courage,' pledging to work towards preventing a humanitarian crisis. "We have arable land, water, mineral reserves and infrastructure. We produce almost half of the crude oil we consume. We have refining capacity and are moving forward with significant and efficient investment in solar energy," Rodriguez noted. "Even in the worst-case scenario we will persist, we will find creative solutions to all difficulties. [...] We will also be willing to engage in dialogue with the United States based on sovereign equality and international law," he added. The speech follows the United States' decision to impose tariffs on nations trading oil with the island. The measures have intensified Cuba's energy crisis, affecting healthcare services, universities and public transport, as the island faces ongoing fuel shortages and recurring blackouts. The United States has enforced economic sanctions on Cuba since 1962, adding over 240 new measures since 2017, many of which remain in effect today. According to data presented by Cuba to the United Nations, the sanctions caused losses of more than 7.5 billion dollars between 2023 and 2024, affecting imports, financing and key sectors such as food, energy and health."