The United Nations, through its country team in Cuba, is providing all possible support to the Cuban people amid the difficulties caused by long-standing U.S. blockades against the island country, Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said on Tuesday.
Dujarric made the remarks at a press briefing when asked about the UN secretary-general's message on Tuesday, particularly on the impact of the U.S. embargo against the Cuban people. Despite years of UN General Assembly votes calling for an end to the U.S. embargo, it remains in effect.
"As you know, the secretary-general of the UN system as a whole has been following very closely the humanitarian situation in Cuba. We've [been] working with our country team, [and] we are trying to do our best to support the Cuban people in this difficult moment," Dujarric said.
The UN is also working to facilitate fuel shipments to Cuba for humanitarian use, the spokesman said.
"We've also been involved in efforts to get fuel into Cuba for humanitarian purposes. We continue to be very concerned about the situation on the ground and the impact of the ongoing energy shortage and the knock-on impact it has on healthcare, education and just basic services," Dujarric said.
Dujarric also stressed that the issue should be settled through dialog and cooperation in line with international law, noting that the General Assembly has long demanded an end to the U.S. embargo against Cuba.
UN doing its utmost to support Cuban people: spokesman
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday again asserted his view that the United States should take control of Greenland from Denmark, with his remarks drawing strong condemnation from the Danish side.
The comments came as the two-day NATO leaders' summit opened in the Turkish capital Ankara on Tuesday, where heads of NATO member states have gathered to discuss key defense and security issues relating to the military alliance.
Trump has made repeated calls for the U.S. to take over Greenland, a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, though tensions had eased when the U.S. president ruled out the use of force during a speech at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos in January.
However, as he took questions before a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Presidential Complex in Ankara on Tuesday, Trump once again raised the issue.
"Because Greenland doesn't help Denmark. Denmark doesn't spend money to really help Greenland, but it's an important part for the United States," Trump told reporters.
Trump also linked the issue to the U.S. military presence in Europe, threatening to withdraw all U.S. soldiers from the continent, while saying "Europe is a very different place" than it was 20 years ago, warning that a mishandling of issues such as immigration and energy means there might not even be a Europe.
In response to Trump's latest remarks, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who is also in Türkiye to attend the NATO summit, said she expects Denmark's allies to respect its sovereignty and accept the fact that Greenland was "not for sale".
She said Denmark has no plan to discuss issues related to Greenland at the summit.
Trump repeats call for US to "control" Greenland on sidelines of NATO summit
