THE leaders of Brazil, Mexico and Spain called on Saturday for the sovereignty of Cuba to be respected as they pledged to provide more aid to the Caribbean island.

The joint statement by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, meeting in the Spanish city of Barcelona, follows threats by US President Donald Trump that his military may “stop off” in Cuba after the war with Iran is ended.

The US has imposed an illegal blockade against Cuba for more than six decades. But the Trump administration has ramped up pressure on Havana in an attempt to force regime change on the Caribbean island.

After launching an illegal and unprovoked attack on Venezuela on January 3, during which 100 were killed including 30 Cubans, and the kidnapping of President Nicolas Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores, President Trump has blocked the import of oil from Venezuela to Cuba.

President Trump has also threatened other countries with heavy sanctions if they deliver oil to Cuba, leading to fuel shortages and energy blackouts.

In Saturday’s statement, the three leaders said: “We are committed to co-ordinating an increase in our humanitarian response aimed at alleviating the suffering of the Cuban people.”

The statement also called for respect for “territorial integrity, sovereign equality and the peaceful settlement of disputes,” as outlined in the United Nations Charter.

Mr Sanchez hit out at President Trump, without directly naming him, during his speech in Barcelona.

He said: “They know their vision of how the world should be ordered is falling apart due to the tariffs and wars.

“Their embrace of climate change denial, xenophobia and sexism is their greatest error.”

He said: “They have tried again and again to make us embarrassed of our beliefs. That ends now. From now on, they can be the ones who feel ashamed.”