{
  "id": 16326761,
  "title": "Cuban ambassadors ask Canada to renew its rejection of U.S. embargo and fuel blockade",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/24/cuban-ambassadors-ask-canada-to-renew-its-rejection-of-u-s-embargo-16326761",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-24T10:00:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "CityNews",
    "slug": "citynews",
    "url": "https://toronto.citynews.ca/2026/10/24/cuban-ambassadors-ask-canada-to-renew-its-rejection-of-u-s-embargo-and-fuel-blockade/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Havana is urging Canada not to abandon its opposition to the U.S. embargo on Cuba as Washington escalates pressure on nations backing the island nation. Cuban Ambassador to Canada Rodrigo Malmierca Diaz told The Canadian Press, \"We are confident that Canada will stand with us, as they have in the past.\" Malmierca warned that the blockade and its intensification are having a detrimental impact on the health and education of Cubans. The United Nations is set to vote next week on a motion Cuba has repeatedly proposed since 1992, calling for an end to the U.S. embargo. Canada has voted in favor of this motion multiple times. The Trump administration has been attempting to topple Cuba's communist regime through a de facto oil blockade, cutting off Venezuelan shipments in January and threatening tariffs on countries that sell oil to Cuba. Malmierca alleged that the American pressure campaign is causing critical shortages and severe blackouts, crippling Cuba's economy. An economic crisis has been plaguing Cuba since 2020, leading to frequent blackouts that have endangered healthcare systems and crippled the island's economy. Cuba currently produces only 40% of the fuel it requires, resulting in power outages that have threatened healthcare systems and halted the island's economy. Air Canada and other airlines suspended flights to Cuba in February due to fuel shortages. Canada pledged to provide $13 million in humanitarian aid to Cubans through international organizations, bypassing the Cuban government. Malmierca expressed the Cuban people's determination to maintain their independence and sovereignty, stating, \"We would like to have a normal relationship with the U.S. We are prepared for dialogue.\" Cuba suspects that countries supporting its stance are being warned by Washington that their access to American trade or aid could be restricted if they keep backing UN motions to end the embargo. Canadian government spokesperson Thida Ith stated that Canada is still deliberating its stance on the UN motion, emphasizing its call for Cuba to implement reforms respecting the political and economic rights of its people and releasing all political prisoners.",
  "summary": "OTTAWA — Havana is urging Ottawa not to drop its public opposition to the decades-long U.S. embargo as Washington ramps up pressure on countries supporting Cuba.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Cuban ambassadors ask Canada to renew its rejection of U.S. embargo and fuel blockade",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/24/cuban-ambassadors-ask-canada-to-renew-its-rejection-of-u-s-embargo",
        "published": "2026-10-24T10:00:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Global News",
        "title": "Cuban ambassadors ask Canada to renew rejection of U.S. embargo and fuel blockade",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/24/cuban-ambassadors-ask-canada-to-renew-rejection-of-u-s-embargo-and",
        "published": "2026-10-24T11:37:47.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}