- The Trump administration has imposed new penalties on nine state-owned Cuban companies
- The US oil blockade has plunged Cuba into a full-blown economic crisis
- Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez rejected the sanctions as a deliberate attempt to harm the economy
- Several US citizens were detained at Miami airport returning from Cuba
- Fuel shortages have caused blackouts, transport collapse and tourism evaporation
President Donald Trump’s administration is increasing pressure on Cuba by imposing more economic penalties on industries in the heavily sanctioned country and broadening enforcement of laws that bar Americans who visit the island from dealings with government-owned or -affiliated businesses.
The Treasury and State departments announced new penalties against nine state-owned mining, metal and construction companies along with the leadership of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that the institute is responsible for sponsoring a vast subversive network in the United States aimed at identifying, cultivating and radicalising Americans.
Trump’s Republican administration has steadily ratcheted up pressure on Havana, threatening it with potential military intervention even when mired in a conflict against Iran, while also boosting economic sanctions designed to cut off funding for the Cuban government. An oil blockade that the US imposed on Cuba after the American military raid that ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, whose country provided Cuba with subsidised oil, has plunged the already economically crippled island into full-blown crisis. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez rejected the sanctions, asserting that the United States and Rubio are pursuing the deliberate aim of harming the economy to prevent the provision of basic services to the population.
The latest sanctions follow an operation at the Miami airport last weekend in which several American citizens returning from Cuba after participating in events marking Castro’s birthday were briefly detained, with some having their cellphones and other personal electronic devices seized for inspection. The lack of fuel to provide Cubans with electricity has plunged the island into all-out blackouts, with access to public transport effectively disappearing, shortages of medicine worsening, work hours slashed and tourism, the island’s economic lifeline, evaporating.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio shared: “The Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples is responsible for sponsoring a vast subversive network in the United States aimed at identifying, cultivating and radicalising Americans.”
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez shared: “The United States and Rubio are pursuing the deliberate aim of harming the economy to prevent the provision of basic services to the population.”
