Democratic members of US Congress visit Cuba and compare US energy embargo to 'silent Gaza'

Source: AP

Updated 6:25 PM EDT, July 13, 2026


HAVANA (AP) — Four Democratic members of U.S. Congress who traveled to Cuba this weekend described the energy embargo imposed on the island by U.S. President Donald Trump as turning the island into a “silent Gaza.”

The U.S. implemented the energy embargo in January after the capture of Venezuela’s then-President Nicolás Maduro and threatened tariffs on other countries that sell fuel to the island. The measures have exacerbated a five-year crisis caused by previous sanctions and failed domestic policies, such as monetary unification.

Reps. Mark Pocan of Wisconsin, Teresa Leger-Fernández of New Mexico, Maxine Dexter of Oregon and Delia Catalina Ramírez of Illinois arrived Thursday for a visit that included meeting with President Miguel Díaz-Canel and lasted until Monday. This is the second trip by representatives in three months.

They also met with ministers, medical professionals, and business leaders and toured the streets of Havana, they told journalists. However, they clarified that there are currently no talks between Washington and Havana when asked about progress in the bilateral dialogue to lift the energy embargo. “I think (Secretary of State) Marco Rubio is making this personal and not professional,” Pocan said.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/cuba-embargo-congress-pocan-legerfernandez-dexter-ramirez-e369a23097dcf104d424af88cdc2134a