U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) has openly acknowledged that she is in discussions with ambassadors from Mexico and other Latin American nations to find ways to supply oil to Cuba. This revelation coincides with the Trump administration’s intensified economic sanctions designed to pressure Cuba’s communist government.
In her statements, Jayapal highlighted the severe energy challenges facing Cuba after President Trump’s January executive order threatened penalties on nations providing fuel to the island. With Venezuela’s oil shipments halted and only minimal supplies arriving from Russia, she characterized the energy situation as a serious crisis.
Although Russia has indicated plans for further deliveries, Jayapal labeled the circumstances as “a crisis beyond imagination.” Her admission that she is working with the Cuban regime raises concerns, especially with military action being a possible response.
“I was in conversations with the ambassadors from Mexico and some other places, other countries in Latin America trying to figure out how to get oil there,” she disclosed.
Sanctions Compared to Warfare
During her briefing, she likened the U.S. sanctions to acts of war, suggesting that they impose devastating economic pressures on Cuba. Jayapal referred to these sanctions as an “economic bombing,” arguing that such measures fundamentally violate international law.
“It is bombing the infrastructure of Cuba with economic sanctions that essentially ensure that the infrastructure collapses,” she stated.
Controversial Congressional Delegation
This revelation follows a recent five-day congressional visit to Cuba where Jayapal, along with Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), met with top Cuban officials. They returned voicing strong condemnation against U.S. sanctions.
Jayapal and Jackson asserted that the U.S. blockade has inflicted suffering upon the Cuban people and described it as cruel and counterproductive. Their statements characterized the situation as an “economic bombing” and called for the immediate cessation of sanctions.
Pushback from Lawmakers
Jayapal’s engagement with the Cuban government starkly contrasts with the Trump administration’s strategy to isolate the regime, which has a history of supporting terrorism and engaging in human rights violations. By attempting to facilitate alternative oil supplies, her actions challenge the administration’s foreign policy framework.
Rep. Carlos Giménez (R-FL), representing many Cuban-American constituents, criticized Jayapal’s previous delegation for undermining democratic values and effectively supporting a repressive regime.
