Cuba throws weight behind Venezuela in row with U.S.

Cuba rallied behind Venezuela on Tuesday after US President Barack Obama authorized new sanctions against officials of the turbulent South American oil producer. The country’s reaction marked its first public confrontation with the United States since the two countries began discussions in December on fully restoring diplomatic relations. Cuba joins other leftist regional governments in closing ranks with Caracas in the deepening US-Venezuela row.

You have no right to attack us and declare that Venezuela is a threat to the people of the United States. The threat to the American people is yourselves.

Venezuaelan President Nicolas Maduro

As Venezuela’s economy spirals and Maduro cracks down against dissent, friendly nations said they would not tolerate foreign interference. The European Union said Tuesday it has no plans to follow the US lead and impose sanctions on Venezuela. Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro congratulated Maduro on his “brilliant and brave” stance against the US in a letter also published Tuesday by the Cuban press. The sanctions targeted Venezuelan officials who the United States said were linked to human rights abuses, including a crackdown on anti-government protests last year that left 43 people dead.

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