Legal Definitions - hostile embargo

Definition: A hostile embargo is a type of reprisal by one nation against another nation's private ships found in the ports of the aggrieved nation, either during wartime or peacetime, for the purpose of forcing the offending nation to do justice. If this measure leads to war, the vessels are considered captured, but if it leads to peace, they are restored.

Example: During the Cuban Missile Crisis, the United States imposed a hostile embargo on Cuba, which prohibited all trade between the two countries. This embargo was a response to Cuba's alliance with the Soviet Union and the installation of nuclear missiles on Cuban soil. The embargo was lifted in 2015, after more than 50 years of economic sanctions.

Explanation: The example illustrates how the United States used a hostile embargo as a means of forcing Cuba to change its behavior. By prohibiting all trade, the United States hoped to weaken Cuba's economy and force the government to abandon its alliance with the Soviet Union. The embargo was successful in achieving its goal, as Cuba eventually removed the missiles and the Soviet Union withdrew its support.