In brief
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced new sanctions targeting nine state-owned mining, metal and construction firms, the Cuban Ministry of Construction, and senior figures within the Cuba Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP). The move is part of a broader strategy to apply pressure on Cuba’s regime, especially as the island faces a growing fuel blockade and power shortages. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez condemned the sanctions, arguing they will injure the economy and hostage basic services for citizens.
The United States has rolled out a new round of sanctions targeting Cuban officials and state enterprises, according to a declaration by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The sanctions name nine state-owned mining, metal, and construction companies, the Cuban Ministry of Construction, and key figures linked to the Cuba Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP), a body historically used by the Cuban government to strengthen ties with sympathetic organizations worldwide.
Rubio framed the new designations as a response to “subversive anti‑American activities” and alleged that the targeted individuals have been mobilizing a “new brigade of international sympathizers” during Fidel Castro’s centenary celebrations. He further accused the ICAP of “misleading and corrupting American citizens with lies, spy tradecraft and malfeasance.”
The sanctions come as Cuba’s economy remains under severe strain from an ongoing U.S. fuel blockade that has hampered electricity production and led to frequent power outages. Hospitals now rely on emergency generators, and the government’s ability to provide basic services faces considerable pressure.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez has denounced the move, calling it a punitive measure that will deepen economic hardships for ordinary Cubans. He warned that the restriction could destabilize the ability of the state to meet humanitarian needs, signalling mounting internal tensions that might spark public dissent.
The newly sanctioned entities had previously been added to the U.S. sanctions list under earlier administrations. The current strike cluster aims to disrupt the financial flows that sustain the Cuban regime’s long‑standing campaign of repression and international propaganda.
