Photo: Alamy
The United States Department of State announced Monday that it is imposing additional sanctions on 11 senior Cuban government officials and three government-linked organizations, citing concerns about U.S. national security.
The new sanctions follow earlier measures imposed this month by Secretary of State Marco Rubio against the Cuban government, including sanctions targeting Grupo de Administración Empresarial, commonly known as GAESA.
The State Department described GAESA as a “military-controlled umbrella enterprise” central to what it called Cuba’s “kleptocratic communist system.”
According to Rubio, the latest sanctions target Cuban government officials and military figures connected to the country’s security apparatus.
“These sanctions advance the Trump Administration’s comprehensive campaign to address the pressing national security threats posed by Cuba’s communist regime and to hold accountable both the regime and those who provide it material support,” Rubio said in a statement.
“Regime-aligned actors such as those designated today bear responsibility for the suffering of the Cuban people, the failing Cuban economy, and the exploitation of Cuba for foreign intelligence, military, and terror operations,” Rubio added. “Today’s designations further restrict the Cuban regime’s ability to suppress the will of the Cuban people.”
Rubio also indicated that additional sanctions against Cuba could be announced in the coming weeks.
The measures are part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to increase pressure on the Cuban government through economic restrictions and diplomatic sanctions.
The secretary of state also shared hope for the Cuban people during an interview on MS Now.
“The Cuban people should know there’s $100 million of food and medicine available for them right now and the only reason it’s not reaching them is because of the Cuban regime,” Rubio stated.
He also pushed back against Cuba’s foreign minister, claiming that the State Department’s offer of $100 million in aid to Cuba is a lie.
“The Cuban regime is lying. They lie all the time. How can you say it’s not a real offer? We’ve made it to them privately and now publicly,” he added.
