Trump is crushing Cuba. Should Canada step up?
Humanitarian aid is a test of Canada’s independence
Cuba has been plunged into darkness. Schools, hospitals and essential services are hit by rolling 12-hour blackouts. Foreigners, including Canadians, have fled. Even worse, infant mortality is climbing.
The island nation of 10 million people and longtime friend of Canada is enduring a new level of pain inflicted by Trump’s oil embargo.
Around 80 per cent of Cuba’s energy is generated using oil, and Trump has cut off the supply from Venezuela since taking control of its government, causing a massive shortage.
“If I lived in Havana and I was in the government, I’d be concerned at least a little bit,” warned Secretary of State Marco Rubio last month, who has had a long preoccupation with both Venezuela and Cuba.
A poll by Leger Marketing published in January states that 51 per cent of Canadians think Cuba could come under American attack. By the way, the same poll found 31 per cent of Canadians think that the U.S. might invade Canada.
Mexico defies U.S. aggression
In late January President Trump signed an executive order that would impose a tariff on any goods from countries that sell or provide oil to Cuba, a move that could further cripple an island plagued by a deepening energy crisis.
But Mexico has defied the Trump administration. Two Mexican navy ships docked on Thursday laden with humanitarian aid as part of its efforts to support Cuba amid the deepening crisis – just two weeks after Trump’s tariff threat.
One ship delivered 536 tons of food including milk, rice, beans, sardines, meat products, cookies, canned tuna and vegetable oil, as well as personal hygiene items. The other carried just over 277 tons of powdered milk, according to the Mexican government.
Mexico is a long-time oil supplier to Cuba. Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, said on Thursday that her government was seeking diplomatic measures to allow the country to resume sending oil to Cuba, but emphasized that as soon as the ships return, “we will send more support of different kinds.”
Should Canada send aid to Cuba?
Canada has stood by the Communist government of Cuba since the days of the Cold War, distinguishing itself from the Americans’ aggressive policy.
In 1976 Pierre Trudeau became the first leader of a NATO country to visit Cuba — again despite significant pressure from Washington.
In addition to the hundreds of thousands of Canadians providing vital tourism dollars to the Cuban economy, Sherritt International Inc., a Toronto-based mining and power production company, has three decades of close ties to the Caribbean island. The Canadian company warned this week that its nickel and cobalt mining operations there could be forced to shut down amid the crisis.
There are many ways that Canada could help people struggling in Cuba. Economist Jim Stanford says:
First, Carney should express principled opposition to Trump’s attacks — against both Cuba, and any neutral third parties caught in his crossfire.
Second, he should join other Latin American countries in a united defence of free commerce in the Caribbean and throughout the hemisphere.
Third, we should expand our bilateral commercial, investment, and humanitarian ties with Cuba.
“Food and medical products are the most significant ways of assistance that Canada could provide now,” writes John Kirk Contributor, a professor emeritus of Latin American Studies, Dalhousie University. “Official bilateral aid would now help offset the looming humanitarian crisis.” Support could come from Canadian churches and unions.
Testing Prime Minister Carney’s Davos speech
There will be voices inside the Canadian government seeking to avoid drawing further ire from Trump. But if we are to accept the premise of the Prime Minister’s speech in Davos, then Canada should join with Mexico to help Cuba.
“The middle powers must act together,” Prime Minister Carney said to great applause. “Because if we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu.”
Helping Cuba, as we have done in the past, would be an important humanitarian mission, and demonstrate our sovereignty to act independently of the United States.
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Most readers not worried about consequences from challenging Trump
Two weeks ago I asked if you were worried about the potential consequences of Canada challenging Trump. At the time we were talking about CEOs in Canada arguing to “go along to get along” with Trump.
Two-out-of-three readers answered, “No” they were not worried about consequences of challenging the U.S. administration (66%), slightly more than twice as many of those who said they were worried (26%).
“There are times when we have to do the right thing regardless of the consequences.” - E. Weins
“Canada is right to stand up to Trump.”- Hugo
“Without ethics, the economy is a trap for anyone but the top money-makers.” - S. Walke
Yes!
We should provide humanitarian aid to Cuba and not worry too much about US retaliation. How do we want the history books to record Canada's action/inaction in this time of crisis for Cuba?