The United States has announced a new series of economic sanctions targeting Cuba, marking the latest step in a campaign to impact the island’s economy. The US State Department stated on Thursday that it is sanctioning several Cuban companies and Fidel Ernesto Castro, the grandson of former leader Raul Castro.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio commented on the sanctions via social media, stating, "Cuba’s Communist regime elites preside over a failed state where ordinary Cubans go hungry." This announcement follows President Donald Trump's intensified efforts to weaken Cuba's government since January, which include escalating sanctions and a de facto fuel blockade. Cuba has been under a long-standing US embargo that dates back to the Cold War.
Rubio emphasized the need for further actions to hold Cuba's leadership accountable for what he described as decades of mismanagement and repression. He accused the Cuban government of attempting to export Marxist ideology to the US and other nations in the Western Hemisphere, reiterating claims that Cuba poses a national security threat.
In response to the increased pressure, Cuba has initiated pro-market reforms, including its largest set of free-market measures in decades, which were passed in June. These reforms included 176 new measures aimed at loosening regulations and state control in various sectors, such as tourism. Recently announced changes include allowing private companies to establish their own tour and travel agencies and simplifying the process for domestic investors to open foreign bank accounts.
Despite these reforms, the Trump administration has continued to threaten military intervention and maintain its sanctions. Critics argue that these sanctions and the energy blockade have severely impacted Cuba's power grid and healthcare systems. Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated in June that such restrictions are "directly harming Cubans" and called for their removal, highlighting the lack of essential medical supplies.
In contrast, Rubio holds that the Cuban government is responsible for the island's economic struggles. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez responded by accusing the US of fabricating threats to justify its pressure on Cuba. He stated in an interview with the state-run newspaper Gramma that Cuba does not pose a threat to US national security or its economy.
The new sanctions also target two companies in Cuba's nickel mining industry, two companies in the energy sector, including an oil import company, and Banco Exterior de Cuba, a state-owned bank.