Cuba and Venezuela Policy

China’s Foreign Ministry issued a public statement Tuesday condemning the Trump administration’s tightened sanctions and longstanding embargo on Cuba, accusing Washington of violating international law and demanding an immediate end to what it calls a U.S. 'blockade.' Beijing’s protest comes days after U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a raid that disrupted Cuba’s main oil lifeline and after President Trump declared Havana would receive no more oil or money from Venezuela, while hinting that a naval blockade remains an option. Cuban President Miguel Díaz‑Canel has responded that his government is not negotiating with Washington despite Trump’s threats to force a deal by leveraging energy and financial pressure. Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal has reported that U.S. officials are actively seeking Cuban insiders willing to support a regime‑change arrangement by the end of 2026, and Trump in June signed a memorandum reinforcing sanctions, travel bans and restrictions on dealings with Cuban military‑linked entities. The episode highlights a widening front in Trump’s sanctions‑driven foreign policy, with China aligning itself rhetorically with Havana and Caracas as U.S. actions raise the risk of new confrontation in the Caribbean that could draw in major powers.