What Countries does the US Blockade?

Like military war, economic war causes destruction and death: 

PALESTINE: The most extreme blockade today is the US-Israel one against the people of Gaza. More than 290,000 babies and children are near death because of the blockade of all food, water, and medicine. Today images of children are identical to what we have seen during the times of Nazi rule in Europe. This genocidal situation exists with the full backing of the US government.

SYRIA: The US ended the Syria blockade, which reduced 90% of the population to below the poverty line and succeeded in overthrowing the government. The US supported armed Al Qaeda groups in taking power in Syria, and now thousands of civilians have been murdered. 

CUBA: The US blockade is like a medieval siege and cost the Cuban economy $154 billion over 60 years.  The US government put Cuba on the US State Sponsors of Terrorism list (along with Iran, North Korea), making it even more difficult for Cuba to acquire fuel, food, construction supplies, and medicine on the international market. The US also blocked international aid after hurricanes and the covid pandemic. One out of 10 Cubans have left in the last three years. The US blockade has been condemned by the UN General Assembly for 32 years, voting annually since 1992. In 2024, the vote was 187-2, only the US and Israel voted against.  See codepink.org, acere.org, nnoc.org

NORTH KOREA: The US blockade on North Korea began in 1950, the longest of any. In 2018, UNICEF reported 200,000 children suffer from acute malnutrition; new sanctions put 60,000 of these vulnerable children at risk of starvation due to blocked humanitarian aid. In 2022, the UN stated 41% of the population was food insecure, in large part because the US blocks food aid and agricultural inputs. The sanctions continue to cause a high rate of infant and maternal deaths. kpolicy.org, womencrossdmz.org, nodutdol.org, koreapeacenow.org

VENEZUELA:  The US seizure of tens of billions of dollars of Venezuelan assets overseas, seizure of CITGO, and the blocking of Venezuela’s oil exports, led to a 99% drop in government income, causing food shortages and devastating the people. CEPR.net found that in 2017-2018, sanctions caused 40,000 excess deaths, and over 100,000 by 2020.  In 2012, only 3% of the population were malnourished; after years of the blockade, by 2019 it had risen to 32%. As with Cuba, sanctions are a main driver of Venezuelan migration to the US. orinocotribune.com venezuelasolidaritynetwork.org 

IRAN: US sanctions began with the 1979 revolution. As with Cuba, Venezuela and North Korea, the US blocks Iran from the US dominated world financial and banking system. This deprives Iran from tens of billions of dollars of income by cutting access to international trade. Sanctions lead to high rates of unemployment and inflation, causing the deaths of thousands and impoverishment of millions of Iranians. The UN Human Rights Council reported delivery of medicines, medical equipment, and food to Iran was severely undermined by sanctions, particularly hurting women and children. presstv.ir

AFGHANISTAN: After US left Afghanistan, it blocked funds to the new government, paralyzing the Afghan banking system. The US froze $9.4 billion of Afghan assets overseas, while the UN reports over 50% of Afghans will face emergency levels of acute food insecurity, including over 3 million children under 5 years. Today more than 29 million people (out of 41 million) are in need of humanitarian assistance. Around 4 million women and children under 5 years suffered from acute malnutrition in 2023. 

NICARAGUA: While not yet a blockade like US blockade in the 1980s, sanctions have caused Nicaragua to lose over $2.5 billion between 2018-23 in funding from the World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank and IMF. This undermines infrastructure projects, child nutrition, and development programs. A bill from the last Congress would have crippled Nicaragua’s economy and reversed progress in reducing poverty. After Nicaragua took Germany to the International Court of Justice for its military support for Israeli genocide, the bill moved forward and Israeli diplomats called for further punishment of Nicaragua. nicasolidarity.com

In addition, the US economic sanctions on 33 other countries, including 15 in Africa.

Russia is the most sanctioned country, but this backfired, causing serious economic damage to European NATO countries.

Nicaragua Solidarity Coalition

Nicasolidarity.com

nicaraguasolidaritycoalition@gmail.com