France Labels Blockade Against Cuba Illegal and Highlights Its Impact

French Prime Minister Condemns US Blockade, Recognizes Humanitarian Consequences
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu today described the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the United States on Cuba as illegal and acknowledged its consequences for the lives of the island's population.

In a question-and-answer session with the Government in the National Assembly, the Prime Minister stated that France opposes this decades-old policy annually at the UN, both in its capacity as a member of the General Assembly of the multilateral body and as a permanent member of its Security Council.

Context of Parliamentary Inquiry
Lecornu intervened after the president of the Democratic and Republican Left group in the lower house, Stéphane Peu, demanded a reaction from Paris both nationally and at the European level regarding the decree issued by Donald Trump last week, threatening tariffs on countries that supply or send oil to Cuba.

Peu denounced the impact the new measure will have on vital sectors of the population and the instability it will bring to the Caribbean, a region where France has a presence with its overseas territories of Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Saint Barthélemy, and Saint Martin.

Calls for Humanitarian Assistance and EU Action
The Communist deputy called for humanitarian assistance to Cubans and the activation of European Union mechanisms to combat the extraterritoriality of the US blockade and any unilateral attempts to obstruct aid.

France's Stance and Aid Record
According to the Prime Minister, France has assisted Cuba whenever it has deemed it necessary and will continue to do so, although he did not refer to Trump's decree labeling the island an "unusual and extraordinary threat" to the national security of the northern power or to the petroleum siege it aims to establish by pressuring third parties.

In his remarks, Lecornu mentioned the Cuban people but distanced himself from the Government of the Antillean nation, after which Peu reminded him that during the Covid-19 pandemic, Cuban doctors assisted France's overseas territories.