Cuba has strongly condemned the United States' seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker, with a former Cuban diplomat calling the action illegal and warning it threatens regional energy security as the U.S. escalates pressure on Venezuela.
Carlos Alzugaray, the former Cuban diplomat, said the seizure of the tanker and its cargo violates international law.
"They have seized the ship, the tanker, but they have also seized the oil, they have taken the oil. All the sanctions that the United States has imposed on Venezuela are illegal because they are not based on any decision of an international institution like the Security Council of the United Nations," he said.
U.S. forces last week seized a Venezuelan oil tanker, the Skipper, in the Caribbean, alleging it was part of an "illicit oil shipping network supporting foreign terrorist organizations." The U.S. has since intensified its campaign against Venezuela's oil trade.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he has ordered a total blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers traveling to and from Venezuela, escalating a months-long pressure campaign against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Trump also said that the Venezuelan government has been designated "a foreign terrorist organization," accusing it of involvement in crimes including terrorism, drug smuggling and human trafficking.
Trump also claimed that Venezuela is "completely surrounded by the largest armada ever assembled in the history of South America," warning that the pressure would continue until the assets he said had been taken are returned to the United States.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has also denounced the U.S. seizure of Venezuelan oil tanker last week, calling it an act of piracy and maritime terrorism as the U.S. blockade may also impact Cuba, which is experiencing an energy crisis and is heavily dependent on oil imports from Venezuela.
For Cuba, the seizure raises particular concerns. The island is facing a deep energy crisis marked by rolling blackouts and relies heavily on oil imports from Venezuela. Cuban officials fear that expanded U.S. enforcement actions could further disrupt supplies.
The tanker seizure coincides with an expanded U.S. military presence in the Caribbean under "Operation Southern Spear," officially described as a counter-narcotics mission. Cuban authorities argue that the deployment violates a regional declaration designating Latin America and the Caribbean as a "Zone of Peace," and have called for international condemnation of the U.S. actions.
Cuba condemns US seizure of Venezuelan oil tanker amid energy crisis
Cuba condemns US seizure of Venezuelan oil tanker amid energy crisis
A major forum on digital economy cooperation and innovation, part of the 2026 Global Digital Economy Conference, was held on Tuesday at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, seeking to build consensus on development pathways and international standards.
More than 150 representatives from government, business, academia and international organizations attended the event for in-depth discussions on frontier trends, international cooperation, and pathways for shared development in the digital economy.
"As a hub of global diplomacy and innovation, Geneva provides the backdrop for us to build consensus, launch digital cooperation, and jointly promote the development of the global digital economy, at a time marked by the establishment of the World Data Organization and with the 2026 Global Digital Economy Conference pending," said You Jing, director of the foreign exchange and cooperation division of the Beijing Economic and Information Bureau.
The Global Digital Economy Cities Alliance, known as DEC40, organized the event. With 40 cities as its core members, the DEC40 actively engages with international organizations, multinational corporations, research institutions, and other stakeholders.
During the forum, DEC40 announced the launch of its Geneva office and the addition of 11 Chinese and Swiss companies to its membership, among several other new developments.
"We hope to engage in the development of international standards through deeper exchanges in the future, contributing our share. At the same time, by understanding and communicating about these international standards, we can better apply them to our business, thereby supporting our international expansion," said He Chunming, vice president of Hollysys Technology Group Co., Ltd.
The initiation of a number of flagship programs were also announced by DEC40 in collaboration with international organizations such as the International Telecommunication Union, the International Trade Centre, and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research.
These programs include the joint release of global digital economy lighthouse cases and an international innovation competition focused on AI-generated content.
The forum also featured multiple discussion sessions on emerging trends and international cooperation frameworks in the digital economy.
Jointly initiated by Beijing and over 40 other cities worldwide in July 2025, DEC40 is dedicated to narrowing the global digital divide through technical innovation, transfer, co-creation and sharing, and contributing to the achievement of the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
The 2026 Global Digital Economy Conference is scheduled to take place in Beijing in early July, with a focus on building digitally friendly cities, alongside the latest outcomes in digital technology application and industrial development.
Experts build consensus on digital economy cooperation and innovation in Geneva
