Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel met with UN Special Rapporteur Alena Douhan at the Palace of the Revolution. In the meeting, broadcast on state television, Díaz-Canel blamed Cuba's issues on the US embargo. Douhan criticized economic sanctions as an invalid political tool.
The meeting between Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel and Alena Douhan, the UN Special Rapporteur on unilateral coercive measures, took place at the Palace of the Revolution and was broadcast on state television on Friday. Díaz-Canel reiterated that the 'genocidal' US policy, intensified during Donald Trump's first term (2017-2021) and reinforced with his return, is the main cause of the Cuban people's suffering, including blackouts, shortages, health crisis, and repression.
Cuba's return to the State Sponsors of Terrorism list was cited as justification for the economic tightening, though the country no longer trains troops for foreign wars as it did for decades. Douhan, a critic of Washington, echoed the Cuban script by portraying the country as a victim and censuring economic sanctions.
However, internal issues such as elite privileges, censorship, persecution of demonstrators, and bureaucratic obstacles were not on the agenda. Díaz-Canel stated that Cuba is fully willing to cooperate with the UN Human Rights Council's mechanisms, despite longstanding restrictions on civil liberties, political pluralism, and the criminalization of non-violent protests.
In the same week, the Cuban regime blocked foreign-currency accounts of foreign companies and diplomatic missions, preventing withdrawals or transfers abroad. New 'real' accounts funded from abroad are offered, but companies report difficulties in cash withdrawals and fund repatriation. These firms must enter joint ventures where the state takes at least 60% of profits.
Douhan's visit, pre-vetted by Cuban intelligence as pro-leftist, did not include contact with activists or independent civil society organizations, nor visits to political prisoners. Her final report will be presented to the Human Rights Council in September 2026.