Trump extends order allowing detention of ships sailing to Cuba for one year

(Patria) - US President Donald Trump has extended for another year the order allowing the detention and inspection of American and foreign vessels sailing to Cuba, TASS reported

"The Cuban government has not shown that it will refrain from using excessive force against vessels or aircraft of the United States that may participate in commemorative activities or peaceful protests north of Cuba. Furthermore, unauthorized entry into Cuban territorial waters by any vessel registered in the United States continues to be detrimental to the foreign policy of the United States, as such entry could facilitate mass migration from Cuba," the decree states.

"The policy of the United States continues to be that mass migration from Cuba would endanger the national security of the United States by posing a disruption or threat of disruption to the international relations of the United States."

Trump said he is extending the "national emergency with respect to Cuba and the emergency authorities" that would allow for the detention of ships arriving in the republic.

The order was originally signed by President Bill Clinton in 1996 after Cuba shot down two planes of the Miami-based Brothers to the Rescue exile organization. The order banned financial and material support to Cuba in 2004. The bans were expanded in 2016 and 2018. The order has been extended multiple times.

On January 29, a decree was also signed allowing Washington to impose tariffs on goods from countries supplying Cuba with oil. According to this document, an emergency is formally declared in the United States due to an alleged threat from Cuba.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla sharply condemned these measures, which threaten the island nation with a "complete blockade of fuel supplies," "violate all principles of international trade," and create "extreme conditions" for the lives of the Cuban people.

Washington announced that it is cooperating with Havana on the issue of the energy blockade, adding that the parties are close to an agreement.