A top U.S. diplomat in Havana, Mike Hammer, has announced that the United States is planning to hit Cuba with more penalties, also known as sanctions. This warning came just a few days after the U.S. blocked several Cuban judges and a prosecutor from entering the United States. The reason for these actions? The U.S. says these officials were involved in jailing political activists in Cuba.
Mike Hammer, the U.S. Embassy chief of mission in Havana, made this statement at a press conference in Miami. He said the sanctions announced earlier this week were “just the beginning” and that the U.S. government would keep punishing people it sees as repressing the Cuban people. He explained that the U.S. wants to hold these individuals accountable for their actions, and there will be consequences for their choices.
The U.S. has been increasing pressure on Cuba since early 2021. This has included putting Cuba back on a list of countries that the U.S. believes support terrorism, making it harder for Cubans in the U.S. to send money back to their families in Cuba, and stopping programs that allowed more Cubans to migrate to the U.S.
Mike Hammer’s Message in Cuba
Mike Hammer, who has been leading this effort, has been in Cuba for about six months. Since arriving, Hammer has been traveling across the country, speaking to people from all walks of life. He has met with families of political prisoners, small business owners, and everyday Cubans.
In videos shared on social media, Mike Hammer is shown playing dominoes with children, visiting the grave of a famous Cuban leader, and talking with family members of those arrested. These videos are meant to show that the U.S. is not targeting the Cuban people but is instead concerned about the Cuban government’s actions.
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Mike Hammer says many Cubans he has met during his travels believe the problems in the country are not caused by the U.S., but by the Cuban government itself. He explained that many people in Cuba think their own leaders are responsible for the country’s troubles, not the sanctions from the U.S.
Cuba’s government, however, strongly disagrees. They say that Mike Hammer’s comments are not just innocent statements. According to Cuba, Hammer is trying to stir up trouble and encourage the Cuban people to rise up against their government. A Cuban official even described Mike Hammer’s press conference as a political move designed to make it look like the U.S. is a friend of the Cuban people.
Cuba’s Response and the Growing Tensions
Despite the strong words, the Cuban government has not stopped Mike Hammer from traveling around the island. However, a recent warning published in Cuban state media reminded Hammer that “patience has limits.” This suggests that the Cuban government is growing increasingly frustrated with the situation.
Mike Hammer, for his part, said he would continue his work in Cuba, no matter what. He asked why the Cuban government would be afraid of him. After all, he said, he is just a diplomat talking to the people.
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At the same time, Cuba is facing its worst economic crisis in decades. The government says this is due to the U.S. embargo, a set of long-standing restrictions that make it hard for Cuba to trade and do business with the world. The embargo limits money transfers, trade, and even tourism.
The U.S., on the other hand, insists that the economic problems are not because of its policies but because of the Cuban government’s poor decisions. This back-and-forth argument continues as both sides blame each other for the suffering of the Cuban people.
