The Confederation of Catholic Bishops of Cuba warned this Saturday that the threats of Washington about the oil sales a Havana will aggravate living conditions on the island and offered his “availability” to mediate between the two countries, according to a statement.
“The recent news, which announces, among others, the elimination of any possibility of oil entering the country, triggers alarms“, warn the Cuban bishops in the message, which shows concern for the “less favored.”
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After cutting off the flow of oil and aid from Venezuela, US President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Thursday allowing tariffs to be imposed on countries that sell oil to Cuba, considering that the island poses an “exceptional threat” to US national security.
In response, the Cuban president Miguel Díaz-Canel denounced on Friday that the White House “intends to suffocate the Cuban economy” with the new measure.
Given this scenario, the Cuban bishops considered that the risk of “social chaos” in Cuba is “real.”
“Cuba needs changes and they are increasingly urgent,” stated the representatives of the Church and offered their “availability” to mediate between the parties.
“The Catholic Church in Cuba will continue to accompany these people (…) and also offer its availability to, if requested, contribute to lowering the tone of hostilities between parties,” the bishops assured.
Díaz-Canel recently reiterated his government’s willingness to dialogue with the United States, but without making “any political concessions.”
In the past, The Catholic Church has often acted as a mediator and channel of dialogue between the two countries and played a key role in the thaw between Washington and Havana in 2015..
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Cuba is going through a severe economic crisis marked by shortages and prolonged blackouts, a result of the tightening of United States sanctions, the low productivity of its centralized economy and the decline in tourism.
Added to this situation is the impact of the stoppage in oil supply Venezuelan after the US military operation that concluded with the capture of Nicolas Madurothe island’s main ally, which has left Cuba even more vulnerable and has deepened fuel shortages and blackouts.
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