Cuba says it will release more than 2,000 prisoners amid US pressure

Cuba announced Thursday it will release 2,010 prisoners, according to a statement posted by the Cuban Embassy on social media. The move comes as the Trump administration has intensified economic pressure on the island nation through an effective oil blockade, squeezing the Cuban government's finances and resources. The prisoner release signals potential movement on a historically contentious issue between Cuba and the U.S., though the Cuban government did not specify whether the releases are related to the economic pressure or represent a broader policy shift. The announcement underscores the Trump administration's strategy of using economic leverage to pressure the Castro regime on multiple fronts. Cuba has long held political prisoners, and international human rights organizations have repeatedly called for their release.