New York/The Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, affirmed this Tuesday that the Spanish Government will defend Spanish companies that operate in Cuba and rejected the use of force against that country or the extraterritorial application of laws and sanctions.
“The Spanish Government will always defend its companies, Spanish companies that do business anywhere in the world, and we do not accept the extraterritoriality of laws and sanctions,” Albares said during an event at the Atlantic Council forum in New York.
Albares pointed out that this position has the support of the European Commission and affirmed that everything related to Cuba must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Island, as well as international law.
“Everything that has to do with Cuba must respect Cuba’s sovereignty, its territorial integrity and, of course, international law,” he stated.
Asked about the situation in Cuba and Latin America, the minister assured that Spain completely excludes the use of force against any country in the region, including Cuba.
“The use of force when it comes to any Latin American country, including Cuba, is something that we completely exclude,” he said.
“Everything that has to do with Cuba must respect Cuba’s sovereignty, its territorial integrity and, of course, international law,” he stated.
The minister added that Spain maintains a dialogue with the Cuban authorities to guarantee that Spanish interests and those of the entire Latin American community are respected.
“We have a dialogue with them to ensure that the interests of Spain, but also those of the entire Latin American community, are respected,” he said.
Albares also stated that Spain tries to help the Cuban people by sending food and medicine, as well as solar panels to address the electricity shortage.
“We are trying to help the Cuban people, and we are sending both food and medicine, and we are also sending solar panels to help them with the electricity shortage,” he explained.
Albares’ statements come after the president of the United States, Donald Trump, threatened this Tuesday before the UN General Assembly with resorting to military force in Latin America if he considers that his country’s interests are threatened.
In recent months, the Trump Administration has toughened its policy towards Cuba with new sanctions against companies from third countries and officials linked to the Cuban Government.
