Trade unions and MPs warn Trump is creating pretext for intervention in Cub
Campaign News | Wednesday, 27 May 2026
Britain’s trade union movement and parliamentarians have issued a stark warning over escalating US aggression against Cuba, with two major open letters condemning Donald Trump’s latest actions against the island and calling on the British government to oppose any move towards intervention.
The interventions come amid growing international concern over the Trump administration’s intensifying economic warfare and increasing public threats of military action against Cuba.
The trade union statement, coordinated by the Cuba Solidarity Campaign and signed by 17 of Britain’s most senior trade union leaders, warns of a “dangerous escalation” in US hostility and expresses solidarity with the Cuban people and Cuban trade unions at a moment of mounting crisis.
Signatories include general secretaries Paul Nowak (TUC), Andrea Egan (UNISON), Sharon Graham (Unite), Daniel Kebede (NEU), Fran Heathcote (PCS), Dave Ward (CWU), Eddie Dempsey (RMT), Jo Grady (UCU) and Gawain Little (GFTU) alongside leaders from unions representing rail, firefighters, bakers and prison officers.
The trade union leaders condemn the latest US measures against Cuba, including the indictment of former Cuban president Raúl Castro, describing them as part of a broader campaign of “economic warfare, political aggression and destabilisation directed against the Cuban people.”
Their statement warns that current US actions risk “further inflaming tensions and creating a pretext for intervention against a sovereign nation.”
It comes as Cuba faces severe shortages of food, fuel and medicines following the Trump administration’s latest escalation of sanctions, including measures which have cut off oil supplies to the island.
The other letter, signed by 36 MPs and peers from seven political parties through the All–Party Parliamentary Group on Cuba, urges Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper to publicly condemn what it describes as “falsified, inhumane and unprovoked attacks” on Cuba by the United States government.
The parliamentarians warn that Washington is attempting to move the United States “closer towards a state of belligerence with the Republic of Cuba, on a clearly fabricated pretext.”
They argue that the indictment against Raúl Castro must be viewed in the context of a wider campaign of aggression, pointing to recent executive orders intensifying the blockade against Cuba, alongside increasingly provocative claims from US officials.
The letter references recent assertions by the Trump administration that Cuba has obtained military drones and may pose a threat to a US military base — claims parliamentarians suggest are intended to manufacture support for further confrontation.
The APPG on Cuba also questions why allegations relating to the 1996 Brothers to the Rescue incident are only now being pursued, noting that no previous US administration — including Trump’s own first presidency — sought such action.
“Were there any validity” to the claims, the letter asks, “what new evidence has come to light” after three decades and five previous administrations?
Parliamentarians further argue that the indictment has no lawful basis under international law and represents an extraordinary example of US overreach.
The interventions reflect growing concern within the British labour movement over the humanitarian impact of the US blockade, which has now been imposed on Cuba for more than six decades and has been dramatically intensified in recent years.
Trade union leaders warn that the combination of sanctions, fuel shortages and economic coercion is inflicting immense hardship on ordinary Cubans and threatening essential services across the island.
Their statement calls on the British government to oppose all attempts at foreign intervention and to demand an end to the US blockade and sanctions.
CSC director Rob Miller said the letters demonstrated “growing alarm at the increasingly dangerous direction of US policy towards Cuba.”
“At a time when the Cuban people are already enduring immense hardship caused by the US blockade and sanctions, the Trump administration is escalating tensions through threats, false accusations and economic warfare,” he said.
“The British government must not remain silent. Britain should stand firmly for peace, sovereignty and international law, and oppose any attempt to justify intervention against Cuba.”
Full text of letters:
British Trade Unionists oppose Trump’s aggression against Cuba
We, the undersigned British trade union General Secretaries, stand in solidarity with the Cuban people and the Cuban trade union movement at a moment of dangerous escalation by the United States government.
We condemn the latest provocative actions against Cuba, including the indictment of former Cuban President Raúl Castro. These measures are part of a wider campaign of economic warfare, political aggression and destabilisation directed against the Cuban people.
At a time when Cuba is already facing severe shortages of food, fuel and medicines as a result of the US blockade and escalating sanctions, these actions risk further inflaming tensions and creating a pretext for intervention against a sovereign nation.
As trade unionists, we reject attempts to demonise Cuba and undermine its sovereignty. We believe disputes between nations must be resolved through dialogue and respect for international law – not coercion, sanctions or threats.
We therefore call on the British government to oppose all attempts at foreign intervention against Cuba and demand an end to the US blockade and economic sanctions
Paul Nowak,TUC
Andrea Egan, UNISON
Sharon Graham, Unite the Union
Daniel Kebede, NEU
Fran Heathcote, PCS
Dave Ward, CWU
Eddie Dempsey, RMT
Steve Wright, FBU
Dave Calfe, ASLEF
Gawain Little, GFTU
Steve Gillan, POA
Sarah Woolley, BFAWU
Maryam Eslamdoust, TSSA
Jo Grady, UCU
Liz Martin, PCU
Brian McDaid, Aegis
John McGowan, SWU
Letter to Yvetter Cooper, Foreign Secretary
Dear Rt. Hon. Yvette Cooper MP,
Trump Administration Indictment
We write to you as members of the All–Party Parliamentary Group on Cuba to condemn in the strongest possible terms the Donald Trump Administration’s indictment of Raul Castro, President of the Republic of Cuba 2008–18.
It is explicitly clear that the Trump Administration’s unilateralism is politically motivated and is designed to move the United States of America closer towards a state of belligerence with the Republic of Cuba, on a clearly fabricated pretext.
The All–Party Parliamentary Group on Cuba maintains that this hostile act should be viewed as a part of a wider – very current – crude attack by the Trump administration, against Cuba. These unprovoked attacks commenced through Donald Trump’s recent Executive Orders, with the so called, “Oil Blockade” an intensification of the illegal US sixty-six year blockade of the island, which has precipitated a humanitarian crisis by prohibiting oil from reaching Cuba. A barbaric assault on the country’s people and energy infrastructure. Most recently, on Monday, came the Trump Administration’s latest outlandish claim: that Cuba has just obtained 300 military drones and plans to attack a US base with them. Due to the Trump Administration’s recent conduct involving Venezuela, Greenland and Iran, we should take Donald Trump’s bullying, coercion and threats towards Cuba extremely seriously.
Were there any validity to the Trump Administration’s 1996 assertions outlined in the indictment, why was this matter not pursued by: the Clinton Administration (1992-2001); the Bush Jr. Administration (2001-09); the Obama Administration (2009-17); the Biden Administration (2021-25); or indeed by Donald Trump’s first administration (2017-25)? What new evidence has come to light, which was not available to the five previous US administrations, in office prior to the current administration?
More importantly, no lawful mechanism exists for this indictment, which makes a mockery of any form of national or international legal process. American courts have no jurisdiction to even hear, let alone rule in, a trial of a non-American person in relation to an alleged crime in a completely different country, outside of America.
The All–Party Parliamentary Group on Cuba both acknowledges and praises His Majesty’s Government for the stance developed in response to the Trump Administration’s recent threats concerning the USA’s desire to forcibly annex Greenland. The All–Party Parliamentary Group on Cuba respectfully requests that the UK Government publicly condemns the Trump Administration for these falsified, inhumane and unprovoked attacks on the Republic of Cuba. The All–Party Parliamentary Group on Cuba further respectfully requests that the Government seeks to work with our partners and the international community, towards adopting a position on Cuba, akin to the one on Greenland.
Greenland perfectly illustrated what happens when sovereign states who respect international law and desire peace, declare a firm stance against Donald Trump’s aberrations. Venezuela perfectly illustrated what happens when they do not.
Yours sincerely,
Steve Witherden MP, Chair, All–Party Parliamentary Group on Cuba
Plus 36 MPs and Lords from 7 different parties
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