MADRID, Spain — The foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) called on the Cuban regime to implement significant political and economic reforms, guarantee freedom of the press, expression, and association, and take concrete steps toward establishing a multiparty democracy.
The demands were outlined in a joint statement published on November 11, following a meeting held in Paris on November 9 and 10 under France’s presidency of the group.
The statement was endorsed by the foreign ministers of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan, along with the European Union’s High Representative.
In the section specifically addressing Cuba, the ministers urged the authorities to pursue changes that would promote prosperity, respect for human rights, and the legitimate aspirations of the Cuban people.
The call to establish a multiparty democratic system contrasts with Cuba’s political model, whose Constitution recognizes the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) as the supreme leading political force of society and the state.
G7 Demands the Release of Arbitrarily Detained Individuals
G7 representatives also called for the release of everyone arbitrarily detained in Cuba, a demand consistent with reports from independent organizations documenting politically motivated imprisonment.
According to Prisoners Defenders, Cuba had 1,351 political prisoners and prisoners of conscience as of the end of September 2026, including individuals subjected to various forms of deprivation or restriction of liberty.
The human rights situation has also been the subject of recent reports of abuses. The organization Cubalex, for example, documented 303 incidents of repression during October, 154 of which affected people deprived of their liberty.
Concern Over the Humanitarian Crisis
The foreign ministers also expressed concern over Cuba’s deep economic crisis and the humanitarian needs of its population, particularly the shortages of food, fuel, and medicine.
The G7 called for improvements to humanitarian aid distribution mechanisms, both to facilitate the entry of assistance into the country and to ensure its delivery throughout Cuban territory.
The demand aligns with efforts by humanitarian organizations to assist vulnerable families. On November 10, the latest shipment of U.S.-funded humanitarian aid arrived as part of an assistance program intended to benefit 2,100 families in communities across Matanzas Province through Cáritas Cuba.
Cuba Was Among the G7’s Priorities
The situation in Cuba had already been included among the meeting’s priority issues. In an earlier statement from the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, published on November 6, Cuba was listed alongside Venezuela, Haiti, and other international crisis situations.
In their final statement, the ministers encouraged constructive and inclusive dialogue to find a way out of Cuba’s crisis.
The document does not announce new sanctions or establish deadlines for meeting its demands. However, it reflects a unified position among the world’s leading industrialized democracies in favor of political and economic reforms and respect for fundamental rights in Cuba.
