The letter below was published in the Irish Times on 14th March, 2026.
Leading political, trade union, academic and other voices call for end to siege on Cuba
An intensified and illegal US economic blockade, preventing oil and other essential products from reaching Cuba, has created an unprecedented humanitarian crisis for 10 million people on the Caribbean island.
While a US blockade of Cuba has been in place for 64 years, the most recent restrictions on oil imports have resulted in daily electricity black-outs, food shortages and the closure of hospitals, schools and workplaces. The siege has forced the shut-down of public transport, waste collection and of international airline services while children are suffering from dengue fever and malnutrition.
The blockade, which is in breach of international law, follows the illegal abduction of Venezuelan president, Nicholas Maduro and his wife, in Caracas earlier this year and their detention in the US. This followed the interception by the US of vessels carrying oil from Venezuela, including to Cuba.
For three years, the US government armed and supported the genocide by Israeli forces of the people of Gaza killing over 70,000 people and destroying homes, hospitals, mosques and other buildings across the strip. Among those targeted by the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) were thousands of people working for UNWRA, the international agency with responsibility for the welfare of Palestinians in the Occupied Territories and refugee camps across the region.
In their most recent bombing of Iran, the US and Israel have once again breached international law, undermined the long-established rules-based order and institutions, ignored the United Nations appeal to halt the bombardment and defied the principals of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Following the illegal war on Ukraine and genocide in Gaza, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Vladimir Putin, Benjamin Netanyahu and others. In response, the US government unjustly targeted judges of the court with travel and banking restrictions.
For decades, the US has ignored annual UN resolutions, supported by Ireland, condemning its illegal blockade of Cuba. The latest actions by the Trump administration represent a significant escalation of its attempts to destabilise the government of the country by starving its population. The Cuban government has accused Trump and his secretary of state, Marco Rubio, of ‘psychological warfare’ against its people and has called on the international community to provide urgent humanitarian assistance.
As concerned citizens, members of trade unions, progressive parties, NGO’s and charities, we are calling on the Irish government to urgently intervene with the EU and the US administrations to immediately lift the illegal blockade of Cuba and provide the supplies of fuel, food and medical aid required to alleviate the suffering of its people.
Phil Ní Sheaghdha, President, ICTU
Owen Reidy, General secretary, ICTU
John King, General Secretary, SIPTU
Mary Lou McDonald TD
Holly Cairns TD
Ivana Bacik TD
Richard Boyd Barrett TD
Senator Frances Black
Declan Kearney MLA
Ailbhe Smyth
Ursula Barry, UCD
Judy Walsh, UCD
Declan Kearney MLA
Dr David Hickey
Stephen Rea
Marie Barry
Mags O’Brien
Jack O’Connor
Des Geraghty
Ann Speed
Patricia McKeown
Carmel Gates
Gerry Murphy
Paddy Mackel
