It was just a few days ago that Canadian prime minister Mark Carney called on the world’s smaller nations to demonstrate solidarity in the face of greater hegemony being shown by the major powers. It was a solid speech, with a resonating message, and a call to action.

Now we are in a position where the United States has toppled the Venezuelan government and thereby imposed an oil embargo on Cuba. The impact on Cuba was swift and severe, virtually destroying its tourism industry overnight, and causing widespread disruption in other sectors.

Some Canadians are trying to do what they can to help. A coalition, for example, is sending a container that “will bring medical supplies, canned food, powdered milk, rice, beans, cooking oil, generators and mattresses.” But it’s not nearly enough.

Now some people are calling on Carney to back up his words with action and to send fuel to Cuba. “NDP interim leader Don Davies urged the government to ‘support Cuba in the face of aggressive U.S. imperialism,’ arguing this would give heft to Carney’s speech at the World Economic Forum that urged middle powers to stand up to intimidation by superpowers.”

Well exactly. We can do exactly the sort of thing we said nations should do. Or we can sit by and do nothing. It’s the first of will probably be many tests of our national resolve.

Cuba’s ambassador has it right. “The United States government’s policy of economic warfare against Cuba has reached its most ruthless expression in recent days,” he said, according to remarks posted on the embassy’s website. “This is how they intend to make Cuba surrender: suffocating our economy and our population.”

It reminds us of Carney’s phrase, “President Trump is trying to break us so America can own us.” It’s no different when they to it to Cuba than when they do it to us. As the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives says, “The United States is attempting to starve a nation of 11 million people, and it is seemingly doing so for no reason other than irrational cruelty.”

We should resist. It’s time for Canada to help. We should send Cuba the oil and gas they need. It’s not only the humane thing to do, it’s also good policy. There will come a time when we need Cuba, and the other small nations of the world, as much as they need us.