Sat May 31 01:16:09 UTC 2025: ## Trump Administration Escalates Tensions with Cuba, Prompting Formal Protest

**Havana, Cuba** – Relations between the United States and Cuba have deteriorated sharply following a series of actions by the Trump administration, signaling a return to a “maximum pressure” campaign against the island nation. The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a formal protest on Friday, accusing the head of the U.S. mission to Cuba, Michael Hammer, of “unfriendly and meddling behaviour.”

The Ministry’s statement alleges that Hammer has been “inciting Cuban citizens to commit extremely serious criminal acts, attacking the constitutional order, or encouraging them to act against the authorities” since arriving in late 2024. They further assert that his diplomatic immunity should not shield him from accountability for actions that undermine Cuban sovereignty.

This escalation follows a series of moves by the Trump administration viewed by Cuba as hostile. These include:

* **Reinstatement of Cuba on the State Sponsors of Terrorism List:** Immediately upon taking office for his second term, President Trump reversed a decision by his predecessor, Joe Biden, and re-designated Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism.
* **Visa Restrictions on Medical Personnel:** In February, the administration announced it would revoke visas for individuals working with Cuba’s international medical program, alleging it constitutes “forced labour.”
* **Condemnation of Dissident Re-arrests:** In April, the U.S. condemned Cuba’s re-arrest of dissidents, including Jose Daniel Ferrer and Felix Navarro, despite a previous agreement brokered by the Vatican for their release in exchange for sanctions relief.
* **Designation as “Not Fully Cooperating” on Counterterrorism:** Earlier this month, the State Department accused Cuba of not fully cooperating with U.S. counterterrorism efforts and harbouring fugitives, limiting its ability to purchase weaponry from the U.S.

The Foreign Ministry also criticized Hammer’s recent visit to the tomb of Cuban national hero Jose Marti, which they deemed a “public and insulting manipulation” due to the accompanying voiceover quoting Marti’s support for freedom of thought.

The U.S. State Department has remained defiant in the face of the Cuban reprimand, indicating it will continue to support dissidents against what it describes as Cuba’s “malign influence.” This increasingly confrontational approach marks a significant shift from the efforts to normalize relations during the Obama and, partially, Biden administrations, and harkens back to the Cold War era of heightened tensions between the two nations. The future of U.S.-Cuban relations remains uncertain as the Trump administration appears poised to intensify its pressure on the island.

Read More