US President Donald Trump signed a new executive order on Friday that broadens American sanctions against the Cuban government and its supporters. White House officials confirmed the move, which aims to increase pressure on Havana following the recent ousting of Venezuela’s leader.
The sanctions target individuals, companies, and affiliates who back Cuba’s security forces or take part in corruption and human rights abuses. They also hit government agents, officials, and their backers. Moreover, the order opens the door for secondary sanctions on anyone who does business with those targeted parties.
Cuba Hits Back at Coercive Measures
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel quickly condemned the action. He described the new steps as “coercive” measures that strengthen the United States’ long-standing “brutal, genocidal” blockade against the island nation. In a social media post, Diaz-Canel highlighted how the world’s most powerful military uses intimidating tactics that harm ordinary Cubans.
Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez also spoke out during the island’s traditional May Day events. He argued that the sanctions seek to punish the Cuban people as a whole, yet he insisted that Cubans will not bow to such pressure.
Experts note the order marks a major shift. Jeremy Paner, a former US Treasury sanctions investigator, pointed out that foreign oil, gas, mining firms, and banks can no longer easily separate their Cuban dealings from American rules. As a result, many international companies now face real risks if they continue operations in Cuba.
