US raises pressure on Cuba as it sanctions President Diaz-Canel

Measures come as Cuba continues to experience food shortages and blackouts.The United States has imposed sanctions on Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, the latest of numerous measures adopted against the communist-led island.The sanctions, revealed on Thursday on the US Treasury’s website, are part of Washington’s efforts to raise pressure on Cuba’s leadership. An energy blockade enforced by the US Navy has provoked critical blackouts and food shortages.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3US defence secretary compares Bolivia protests to government ‘overthrow’list 2 of 3US to allow Venezuelan government to cover Maduro’s lawyer feeslist 3 of 3US indicts Cuba’s former leader Raul Castro: Why it mattersend of listThe new sanctions also take aim at the president’s wife and stepson, as well as the son and a grandson of former president Raul Castro, brother of Cuba’s former leader Fidel Castro, for whom the US issued an arrest warrant last month.The Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces has also been targeted, along with the Cuban military and the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR), which is tasked with monitoring counter-revolutionary activity.Washington claims that Cuba’s communist regime threatens US security. President Donald Trump has been threatening to take military action against the island since abducting Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in January, as he raises efforts to push left-wing governments out of the Americas, which he insists is crucial for US interests.“We’ll take care of the Islamic republic of Iran, and as soon as that’s done, on our way back, we’ll just make a little brief stopover,” Trump said on Thursday, alluding to Cuba.Diaz-Canel accused Trump of trying to “strengthen the blockade and scenario of conflict between Cuba and the United States”.“This political blindness is added to the coercive measures applied in recent weeks against our country, designed to harm the Cuban people. The aggressiveness and perversity of the Yankee government will clash with our determination to confront the worst scenarios and resist the imperialist onslaught,” the Cuban leader wrote on social media.