US warns of ‘aggravated’ steps for Cuba backing Maduro

ANKARA

The U.S. warned Cuba against the “worse consequences” of its ongoing support for Venezuelan president, a U.S. daily reported.

"What you’re going to see are incremental actions," said a senior official from the U.S. administration Thursday in a teleconference with reporters, according to the Miami Herald.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, emphasized that every step taken by the U.S. against the Cuban government has specifically targeted its financial networks, income and oil trade.

"All of that is going to become aggravated if they don’t cease their support for the destruction of democracy and the repression of the Venezuelan people," the official said.

And added: "If you don’t want to see worse consequences, now is the time to take a step back.”

The U.S. special envoy for Venezuela also made similar comments on Wednesday, warning for more sanctions against the Cuban government.

"The pressures on Cuba have increased a lot since January and will continue to increase, and we have made it clear that it is due to their actions in Venezuela," Elliott Abrams said.

Stressing that Cuba has successfully resisted the U.S. steps and sanctions for 60 years, Luis Alberto Amoros Nunez, Cuba’s ambassador to Turkey, recently told Anadolu Agency that his country will resist and overcome the challenges in line with its revolutionary spirit.

Amoros stressed that "the support of Cuban people, army and the international community" give the country strength and opportunity to resist the U.S. actions.

Early July, the U.S. imposed sanctions on Cubametales, alleging that the Cuban state-run oil import and export company continues to import oil from Venezuela.

Political unrest has been ongoing in Venezuela between Maduro and opposition leader Juan Guaido since Jan. 10.

Guaido in January proclaimed himself the rightful president of Venezuela, dismissing Maduro’s 2018 re-election as a fraud, a move recognized by more than 50 states, including the U.S.

Cuba is one of the several states in the continent, including Bolivia and Mexico, which throw its support behind Maduro as the country’s legitimate ruler in the face of foreign-backed coup attempts.