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

The United States has imposed sanctions on Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, his wife and stepson, as well as the son and grandson of former president Raul Castro. The Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, the Cuban military, and Committees for the Defense of the Revolution were also targeted. These measures, revealed on Thursday, are part of Washington's efforts to increase pressure on Cuba's leadership, which the US claims threatens its security. The article states these actions come as Cuba experiences food shortages and blackouts, which it attributes to an energy blockade enforced by the US Navy. President Diaz-Canel accused the US of trying to strengthen the blockade and create conflict.

The United States has imposed new economic sanctions on Cuba, targeting President Miguel Diaz-Canel, his wife and stepson, and members of the Castro family, including the son and grandson of former president Raúl Castro. The Treasury Department also sanctioned the ministry of the revolutionary armed forces and several other entities. According to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, these actions aim to disrupt networks funding Cuba's "subversive and radical operations" and signal a refusal to tolerate "radical Marxist regimes." The US warned that any entity providing services to these sanctioned actors risks facing sanctions themselves. These measures represent a significant escalation of US pressure on Cuba, building on existing embargoes and previous visa restrictions.

The United States Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, his wife, and three other individuals, including Alejandro Castro Espín, son of former President Raúl Castro. This action is part of the Trump administration's intensified pressure on Cuba's leadership, following an executive order expanding sanctions and threats of military action. These measures come after the U.S. announced criminal charges against Raúl Castro and have contributed to severe economic hardship in Cuba, including blackouts and food shortages. President Trump stated the sanctions aim for Cuba to become a "nicely run country" and suggested a "friendly takeover" if the economy doesn't open to U.S. investment. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed doubt about reaching a diplomatic resolution with the current Cuban government.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez has denounced new US sanctions, signed by President Donald Trump, as "illegal and abusive." The executive order targets Cuban officials in key economic sectors and those accused of human rights abuses or corruption. This action coincides with protests in Havana against a US oil blockade that has led to fuel shortages and blackouts. Trump has intensified US foreign policy towards Cuba, expressing a desire to change its communist leadership and suggesting an imminent US takeover. Rodriguez stated on X that these "unilateral coercive measures" violate the UN Charter and constitute collective punishment against the Cuban people, asserting that the nation will not yield.

Cuba's government has condemned new U.S. sanctions imposed by President Trump, calling them "collective punishment" against the Cuban people. The sanctions, announced on Friday, target individuals involved in broad sectors of the Cuban economy, including energy, defense, and finance, as well as Cuban officials accused of human rights abuses or corruption. This move marks a significant escalation of U.S. economic pressure on Cuba, impacting non-American companies with operations there. The sanctions come amid worsening economic conditions in Cuba, including fuel shortages and a decline in tourism, and follow Trump's previous suggestions of potential military action against the island.