August 30, 2026
A Cuban surgeon performs surgery in Reggio Emilia, Calabria. Foto: Cubadebate.
The National Association of Friendship between Italy and Cuba has strongly condemned the freezing of the operating accounts of the Cuban medical mission in Calabria, an act of financial interference by the United States that, it claims, seriously affects Italian public health. In a statement, the organization describes the measure as an illegal extension of OFAC sanctions against Cuba, using extraterritorial laws that violate international law and Italy’s sovereignty.
The association emphasizes that Cuban healthcare personnel—mostly women, with some men as well—perform “extraordinary, valuable, and indispensable” work in regions with a shortage of professionals, such as Calabria. Hindering their work is, in its view, “an act of unprecedented gravity.” While Cuba, despite the criminal blockade lasting more than six decades, offers global healthcare solidarity without seeking anything in return, the U.S. administration reveals “its true imperial face,” even preventing normal scientific and cultural exchanges.
The organization calls on Italian and European institutions to defend their sovereignty, protect cooperation agreements, and reject any extraterritorial sanctions. It concludes with the slogans: “Solidarity cannot be blocked; Cuban medicine cannot be sanctioned” and “Cuba lives, resists, and will prevail.”
Italy-Cuba Friendship Association Condemns US Financial Aggression against Cuban Doctors in Calabria
The National Italy-Cuba Friendship Association expresses its strongest condemnation and deepest indignation at yet another shameful act of interference and financial aggression perpetrated by the United States of America against the Republic of Cuba—an act that, this time, has a direct and extremely serious impact on the health of Italian citizens.
The freezing of operational accounts linked to the Cuban medical mission represents yet another flagrant violation of international law and national sovereignty. The United States is once again attempting to extend its unilateral and extortionate decisions—beginning with the inclusion of Cuban entities on OFAC’s sanctions lists—beyond its borders, imposing extraterritorial laws on third countries and even on its own European allies, with utter disregard for the norms governing international relations.
It is unacceptable and intolerable that U.S. economic extortion should affect men and women who have left their homeland to put their professional skills and humanity at the service of the community.
Cuban doctors are doing extraordinary, valuable, and indispensable work in regions that have suffered for years from a shortage of healthcare personnel, such as Calabria. To see their work and the free operation of cooperation agreements hindered is an act of unprecedented gravity.
While a small island like Cuba—which for more than sixty years has been the victim of a criminal and illegitimate economic, commercial, and financial blockade—continues to offer solidarity, heal the sick, and save lives around the world without asking for anything in return except respect for its independence, the U.S. administration once again reveals its true face: that of an empire seeking to deny Cuba even the right to engage in normal economic, cultural, and scientific exchanges with other states.
This is not merely an act of aggression against Cuba: it is an insult to Italy’s sovereignty and to our people’s right to health.
The National Association of Italian-Cuban Friendship:
* Strongly condemns U.S. interference and its attempt to dictate terms in relations between sovereign states;
* Reaffirms its total and unconditional solidarity with the Cuban doctors and healthcare workers in Italy;
* Calls on Italian and European institutions to proudly assert their sovereignty, protect the signed cooperation agreements, and resolutely reject any form of extraterritorial sanction that harms our country’s interests and Cuba’s right to self-determination.
Solidarity cannot be blocked; Cuban medicine cannot be sanctioned!
Cuba lives, resists, and will prevail!
National Secretariat – National Association for Italy-Cuba Friendship
Source: Cubainformacion, translation Resumen Latinoamercano – English