UN experts have expressed concern over escalating United States threats and coercive measures against Cuba, warning that such actions undermine core principles of sovereignty and the right to self-determination.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the experts said that attempts to alter the constitutional order of a sovereign state through pressure and coercion “echo colonial-era practices", raising alarm over Washington’s approach toward Havana.

The experts pointed to remarks by US President Donald Trump, including references to the so-called "Donroe Doctrine" announced in March and statements about the "honor of taking Cuba", as indicators of what they described as a broader coercive strategy targeting the island nation.

They argued that these statements should not be viewed in isolation, but rather in connection with longstanding US policies toward Cuba, including the economic embargo and other restrictive measures.

Sanctions, embargo, and diplomatic pressure

According to the UN experts, US measures include Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, fuel restrictions, and limitations affecting third countries engaged with Havana. They said these actions contribute to sustained economic and political pressure that goes beyond diplomatic disagreement, affecting Cuba’s ability to engage freely in international relations.

The experts also criticized the recent US indictment of former Cuban President Raúl Castro, arguing that using domestic judicial proceedings against current or former heads of state as a foreign policy instrument violates principles of sovereign equality under the UN Charter.

In addition, they raised concern over the announced deployment of the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier to the southern Caribbean, describing it as another element contributing to what they called unlawful coercive pressure.

UN experts warn of erosion of multilateral norms

"These actions are part of a disturbing trend of lawlessness and contempt of multilateralism and the UN Charter", the experts said in their statement, warning that continued escalation risks undermining the international legal order and the principles that govern relations between states.

The experts urged Washington to halt threats against Cuba’s sovereignty, also calling on UN member states and relevant UN bodies to defend the international legal framework and treat the issue as a matter of international peace and security.

Cuba condemns new US sanctions as Washington intensifies economic war

As part of the US' pressure campaign, Cuba has strongly condemned a new round of US sanctions announced by Trump, describing the measures as part of Washington's decades-long campaign of economic warfare.

The latest executive order, signed on Friday, expands US restrictions against officials and institutions linked to Cuba's energy, defense, financial, and security sectors. The move comes as the Caribbean nation continues to face severe economic pressures exacerbated by the US blockade and restrictions on fuel imports.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez denounced the measures as "illegal" and "abusive", arguing that they violate international law and deliberately target the Cuban people.

Writing on X, Rodriguez said the "unilateral coercive measures" violated the United Nations Charter, adding they aimed to impose "collective punishment against the Cuban people."

#SinPerderUnDía y con el corazón avileño latiendo fuerte: rechazo total al bloqueo y las amenazas. #Cuba no se doblega. #LatirAvileño#RaúlEsRaúl@DiazCanelB @DrRobertoMOjeda @JHGcasanova. pic.twitter.com/qFuua4ys5L

— Yunielkys Valdés Rodríguez (@YunielkysR) June 2, 2026

His remarks coincided with demonstrations held across Cuba, where thousands gathered to reject US pressure and defend the country's independence. Sharing footage from the rallies, Rodriguez described them as mobilizations "in defense of the Homeland" and declared: "Our people do not cower."