Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said that this position has the backing of the European Commission.
Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said Tuesday that the Spanish Government will defend Spanish companies operating 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 Atlantic Council forum event in New York.
Albares said that this position has the backing of the European Commission and stated 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 said.
Asked about the situation in Cuba and Latin America, the minister said that Spain completely rules out the use of force against any country in the region, including Cuba.
“The use of force when it comes to any country in Latin America, including Cuba, is something we completely rule out,” he said.
“Everything that has to do with Cuba must respect Cuba’s sovereignty, its territorial integrity, and, of course, international law,” he said
The minister added that Spain maintains a dialogue with the Cuban authorities to ensure that Spanish interests and those of the Latin American community as a whole 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 said that Spain is trying 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 came after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened Tuesday before the United Nations General Assembly to resort to military force in Latin America if he considers that his country’s interests are threatened.
In recent months, the Trump Administration has tightened its policy toward Cuba with new sanctions against companies from third countries and individuals linked to the Cuban Government.
Translated by Regina Anavy
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