February 17, 2026

Japanese Communist Party Central Committee Chair Shii Kazuo received a visit from Cuban Ambassador to Japan Gisela Garcia at the JCP head office on February 16. Shii and Garcia jointly called for an end to the U.S. blockade of Cuba.

U.S. President Trump on January 29 issued an executive order imposing additional tariffs on oil suppliers to Cuba.

The Cuban ambassador explained that due to this order, Cuba is currently experiencing a cutoff of crude oil supplies and severe fuel shortages. She added that this has led to large-scale power outages, causing a serious impact on people’s daily lives, production activities, and society as a whole, including on the healthcare and education systems.

The ambassador said that Cuba is demanding that the United States revoke the order and its nonstop economic embargo on Cuba, and engage in dialogue with Cuba on an equal footing. She requested the JCP’s support for these demands.

In response, Shii stated, “We condemn the U.S. administration’s presidential directive and will demand its revocation.”

Shii pointed out that not only the longstanding economic blockade but also the latest presidential order against Cuba are inhumane and violate the principles of sovereign equality, non-interference, and self-determination as set out in the UN Charter. He criticized the U.S. administration for characterizing Cuba as “an unusual and extraordinary threat” to the U.S. national security, denouncing the claim as groundless.

Shii asserted that the U.S. Trump administration’s scheme to shift the world from “rule of law” to “rule by force” has no future. He mentioned that UN human rights experts have also called on the United States to immediately rescind the executive order as it directly violates the UN Charter. He stressed the importance of international cooperation in stopping President Trump’s outrageous actions taken against Cuba and its people.

Past related article:
> JCP Vice Chair Ogata talks with Cuban ambassador to Japan [January 9, 2026]