Academic Claims US Policy Behind Cuba’s Deepening Economic Crisis

(MENAFN) A US-based academic has argued that Washington’s long-running policies toward Cuba are intentionally contributing to widespread hardship on the island, in comments made during an interview.

Danny Shaw, an ethnography scholar, said the United States has systematically undermined Cuba’s economy for decades and is responsible for worsening living conditions. He described his recent visit to the country and said he attributed instability primarily to external pressure rather than domestic governance.

Shaw stated: “US foreign policy for 67 years now has done everything to disrupt the Cuban economy, any sense of social and economic harmony,” and added that various US agencies closely track conditions on the island, including food availability. He further claimed, “The State Department, all these different agencies, the CIA, they know exactly how many calories Cubans have access to, and every day it’s less,” and described observing “an incredible amount of hunger, of despair, of deprivation, of thirst, lack of water.”

He also argued that economic conditions have deteriorated further in recent years, particularly following policy tightening under the administration of Donald Trump, and suggested that Cuba’s shortages in some areas rival or exceed those seen in other struggling Caribbean nations.

The interview also featured host Rick Sanchez, who said the issue is personally significant to him due to his Cuban heritage. He rejected claims blaming Cuba’s government for the economic crisis, arguing instead that long-term US policy is the primary cause of the country’s difficulties.

The discussion reflects ongoing debate over the causes of Cuba’s economic situation, with sharply divided interpretations between those who emphasize external sanctions and those who point to internal governance and policy factors.

MENAFN02062026000045017281ID1111199143