Venezuela rejects US executive order targeting countries trading with Cuba

CARACAS -- The Venezuelan government on Friday rejected a US executive order that seeks to impose so-called "punitive measures" on countries maintaining commercial relations with Cuba.

In a statement released through the Telegram channel of Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil, the government said that any measure restricting or conditioning the exchange of goods and services, or limiting states' sovereign right to choose their trading partners, constitutes a violation of international law and the fundamental principles governing global trade.

It said free trade is a fundamental principle of economic relations between states and "cannot be subject to any form of coercion" that hinders the exchange of goods and services.

Caracas also expressed its solidarity with Cuba and called on the international community to "address the humanitarian consequences" that may arise from actions taken by Washington.

"Considering Cuba a threat to the national security of the United States of America constitutes an absurdity," the statement added.

Relations between Venezuela and Cuba have strengthened since 1999, when Hugo Chavez became Venezuelan president.