Cuba condemns US sanctions against Venezuela

Cuba on Saturday rejected new economic and financial sanctions imposed on Venezuela by US President Donald Trump, as tensions between Caracas and Washington continue to grow.

"Havana condemns these new 'unilateral and arbitrary' measures against Venezuela", deputy Foreign Minister Abelardo Moreno was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.

"Cuba rejects these sanctions which violate international law against Venezuela and the government led by President Nicolas Maduro," said Moreno.

The statement by Moreno added that it's "imperative" to defend the declaration of Latin America and the Caribbean as a peace zone signed by all heads of state of the region in 2014.

"Our continent can't forget its own history, we must defend the principles and commitment of that declaration," Moreno said.

Venezuela is Cuba's main political ally in the region and its second largest trading partner as Havana receives around 100,000 barrels of oil daily from the former in exchange for medical doctors and other advisers.

The new sanctions, signed on Friday by Trump, will prohibit dealings in new debt and equity issued by the government of Venezuela and its state oil company.

This was the latest round of sanctions imposed by the Trump administration on Venezuela after the latter held elections to elect the National Constituent Assembly at the end of July.

--IANS

soni/bg