U.S. President Donald Trump has expanded sanctions against the Cuban government through an executive order signed on Friday. The move is part of efforts to increase pressure on Havana following the removal of Venezuela’s leader, as per two White House officials who spoke with Reuters.
The new sanctions specifically target individuals, entities, and associates that support the Cuban government’s security apparatus, engage in corruption, or are involved in serious human rights violations. This includes agents, officials, or supporters of the government, according to the officials.
While the specific targets of the sanctions were not immediately disclosed, the order, initially reported by Reuters, indicated that they could affect any foreign entity operating in sectors such as energy, defense, metals and mining, financial services, or security in the Cuban economy.
Under the order, secondary sanctions are authorized for those conducting or facilitating transactions with the sanctioned entities, the officials confirmed.
Reacting to the measures, Cuba’s foreign minister, Bruno Rodríguez, expressed the country’s rejection of the new sanctions, deeming them as “unilateral coercive measures” that violate the United Nations Charter and aim to impose collective punishment on the Cuban people. In a social media post, Rodríguez asserted that the U.S. does not have the right to impose such measures and affirmed that they will not be intimidated.
Former U.S. Treasury sanctions investigator Jeremy Paner described the executive order as a significant step for non-American companies since the inception of the U.S. embargo against Cuba. Paner, now a partner at Hughes Hubbard & Reed, emphasized that companies in sectors like oil and gas, mining, and banking, previously insulated from U.S. sanctions, are now vulnerable.
The latest sanctions mark another move by the Trump administration against Cuba, with the President warning of further actions in the future. The administration has also targeted Cuba through military operations near Venezuela and hinted at additional measures against Havana in the future.
The order implicates Cuba for its alleged association with Iran and groups like Hezbollah, positioning it as a threat due to its proximity to the U.S. homeland. The U.S. has long demanded economic reforms, property reparations, and democratic elections in Cuba, which the socialist government has rejected.
Cuba faced increased pressure earlier this year when the U.S. halted Venezuelan oil exports to the island after ousting Maduro. Trump further threatened punitive tariffs on countries supplying crude to Cuba, leading top suppliers like Mexico to cease shipments to the island.
The fuel shortages in Cuba have exacerbated widespread blackouts and prompted foreign airlines to suspend flights to the country.