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U.S. declares national emergency over Cuba; State Dept. warns tariffs on oil suppliers
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Summary
On Martín Noticias, State Department Spanish-language spokesperson Natalia Molano said President Trump’s Jan. 29 national emergency targets Cuba for supporting hostile actors and includes a policy to impose tariffs on countries that sell oil to Cuba. Molano cited alleged ties to hostile states, intelligence activity and human-rights abuses as justification.
President Trump on Jan. 29 declared a national emergency aimed at holding the Cuban government accountable, and the United States will impose tariffs on countries that supply oil to Cuba, Natalia Molano, Spanish-language spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, told Martín Noticias.
Molano said the executive order "estableció y declaró que iba a imponer aranceles a cualquier país que suministre o le venda petróleo a Cuba," framing tariffs on third countries as a principal enforcement measure. She described the order as intended to "hacer que el régimen cubano rinda cuentas" for supporting actors the U.S. views as hostile.
The spokeswoman listed several reasons the order cites for the emergency: she said Cuba "se alinea con numerosos países hostiles," hosts intelligence capabilities and referenced Russia as an example of a nation that "se dedica a robar información delicada de los Estados Unidos." She also said the order alleges Cuba "proporciona refugio a grupos terroristas como lo son Hezbolá y Hamás," and cited human-rights abuses, including that the regime "persigue y tortura a sus oponentes políticos" and restricts freedom of speech and press.
"Por estas razones específicas que están delineadas en esta orden ejecutiva, esta acción decisiva ... explica cómo esto es una amenaza inusual extraordinaria para la seguridad nacional de los Estados Unidos," Molano said, adding that the measure continues the administration’s prior, stricter Cuba policy.
The interview did not include statements from Cuban officials or independent evidence presented on-air to corroborate the specific allegations Molano recited from the executive order. Molano framed the tariff authority as a tool the administration can use against third countries that provide energy to Cuba; the transcript does not specify which countries might be targeted or a timetable for enforcement.
State Department officials said the emergency declaration represents an expansion of existing policy tools rather than a congressional action; the segment included no vote, formal rule change, or response from other governments. Molano said the administration will continue to hold Cuba accountable and to provide updates on implementation.
