The Embargo or "Blockade" in Cuba: Beyond Words, the Human Reality.
1. A Discussion of Terms... That Doesn't Fill Stomachs
For over six decades, two words have dominated the debate on Cuba:
"Embargo," the term officially used by the United States.
"Blockade," the term defended by Cuba and many of its allies.
The discussion may seem legal or political.
But for the Cuban people, the issue is much simpler and more direct: Whatever the name, equivalent hardships always fall upon the population.
That is the foundation of this analysis.
2. Technical Difference Between "Embargo" and "Blockade"
In theory, from a legal standpoint, amid great international debate and controversy, the concepts are not identical.
Embargo (technical definition)
An economic or commercial restriction imposed by one country on another.
Does not necessarily imply the use of military force.
May include exceptions (food, medicine, etc.).
Blockade (classic technical definition)
Total isolation of a territory by military means.
Typical in wartime contexts.
Seeks to completely prevent the entry and exit of goods.
Strictly speaking, what is applied to Cuba is not a military naval blockade. Cuba could potentially trade with the world and receive ships from many countries.
What changes everything: However, the Cuban case is not a classic bilateral embargo.
3. An Embargo with Global Reach
U.S. sanctions include elements that make them rigorously exceptional:
Penalization of companies from third countries that trade with Cuba.
Restrictions on the use of the dollar in international transactions.
Global financial and banking limitations.
Obstacles to credit, insurance, maritime transport, and investment.
Let's look at an example of this global reach.
This "extraterritorial character" is the main argument of the Cuban government for calling it a "blockade," as its effects transcend the bilateral relationship, becoming a global siege, coercing third countries into not establishing commercial relations with Cuba. Its key components are detailed below with examples of their impact:
Penalization of companies from third countries that trade with Cuba.
o Concrete example: A European or Latin American company that maintains commercial or financial ties with Cuba risks being sanctioned by the U.S. government. This creates an intimidation effect that goes beyond U.S. law.
o Context: This practice, known as extraterritoriality, is in tension with fundamental principles of international law, such as non-intervention in the internal affairs of other States, enshrined in the United Nations Charter.
Restrictions on the use of the dollar in international transactions.
o Concrete example: If Cuba tries to buy food or medicine from a supplier in Europe, the transaction typically needs to pass through the U.S. financial system. Due to sanctions, banks refuse to process these payments for fear of reprisals, forcing the island to seek alternative currencies (like the euro or yuan) or more expensive intermediaries in second or third countries.
o Context: The lack of access to the dollar, the world's primary reserve currency to date, makes all commercial transactions more expensive and slower, as it forces the use of more complex financial routes with greater friction.
Global financial and banking limitations.
o Concrete example: International banks, even from allied countries, often choose to close accounts or reject any transaction linked to Cuba to avoid risking their dollar correspondent relationships or their access to the U.S. market. This isolates Cuba from the global financial system.
o Context: Cuba is not a member of multilateral financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) or the World Bank, which closes the door to conventional credit lines and worsens its external deficit.
Obstacles to credit, insurance, maritime transport, and investment.
o Concrete example: A shipping company may refuse to transport goods destined for Cuba because its insurance does not cover potential sanctions. Similarly, international suppliers cancel contracts or suspend shipments, and the credit lines needed to finance trade are blocked.
o Context: The lack of foreign investment is aggravated by this climate of legal and commercial uncertainty. Reflecting the severity of the crisis, the Cuban government has at times blocked the repatriation of currency to foreign companies in an attempt to alleviate its own liquidity crunch a desperate measure that deepens investor distrust in an environment already suffocated by external sanctions.
This framework of extraterritorial sanctions has a direct human impact, as it makes importing food and medicine more expensive, hinders the acquisition of fuel and spare parts, and contributes to the blackouts and shortages that mark daily life on the island.
This creates an indirect but powerful effect: Many international actors avoid operating with Cuba for fear of sanctions.
For this reason, the Cuban government and numerous countries consider that the term "blockade" better describes the real scope of the sanctions regime. By penalizing third countries, the United States, without applying a blockade in the strict legal sense of the word, achieves through this path greater limitations and restrictions on the Island in all domains.