WASHINGTON – U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has stated that any future easing of U.S. sanctions against Cuba will depend entirely on actions taken by the Cuban government, not on unilateral decisions by Washington.
Speaking about the possibility of changes in U.S. policy toward the island, Bessent made it clear that the responsibility lies with Havana.
“That will depend on the Cuban government,” the Treasury secretary said when asked whether the United States was considering relaxing sanctions or other restrictions imposed on Cuba.
Bessent also addressed humanitarian assistance efforts, claiming that the United States had attempted to deliver aid directly to the Cuban people. According to the U.S. official, those efforts were rejected by the Cuban government because authorities wanted to maintain direct control over the distribution of resources through state-run structures.
The comments come amid continued tensions between the United States and Cuba and as the administration of President Donald Trump maintains a policy of maximum pressure on the Cuban government.
Washington has repeatedly argued that any significant reduction in sanctions must be accompanied by tangible progress in areas such as political freedoms, human rights, and democratic reforms.
The Cuban government has consistently rejected those allegations, maintaining that U.S. sanctions are the primary cause of the country's ongoing economic difficulties, including shortages of essential goods, inflation, and declining living standards.
Bessent's remarks reinforce a message that has been repeated by several senior U.S. officials in recent months: improvements in relations between the two countries will depend on concrete actions by the Cuban authorities rather than concessions from Washington.
The statement signals that the current U.S. administration is unlikely to alter its approach toward Cuba in the near future without what it considers meaningful changes from the government in Havana.
The issue remains closely watched throughout the Caribbean region, where developments in U.S.-Cuba relations often have broader political and economic implications. For countries such as Curaçao, which maintain historical, cultural, and commercial ties with Cuba, any future shift in relations between Washington and Havana could have regional consequences affecting trade, migration, and diplomatic cooperation.