US Sanctions Cuban President and Officials Amid Increased Pressure on Cuba

The State Department has imposed sanctions on Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, four other individuals, and five entities associated with the Cuban government. This action is part of the Trump Administration's efforts to address what it describes as the Cuban regime's longstanding campaign against the United States and to hold accountable those who support its operations. A State Department spokesperson stated that the Cuban government prioritizes its own interests over the welfare of its citizens. The department also cautioned that foreign banks and companies engaging with the sanctioned parties risk facing sanctions themselves. This follows a recent indictment by the Department of Justice against former Cuban President Raul Castro and others for their involvement in a 1996 incident that resulted in the deaths of four Americans. The State Department is working with the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control on these sanctions, which include entities such as the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba and the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples.