The United States has imposed a new round of sanctions targeting key Cuban entities and officials, escalating pressure on the government of Miguel Díaz-Canel amid the island’s deepening economic and humanitarian crisis.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Thursday that Washington had sanctioned Grupo de Administración Empresarial S.A. (GAESA), the powerful military-controlled conglomerate widely viewed as one of the central pillars of Cuba’s economy.
In a statement, Rubio described GAESA as “the heart of Cuba’s kleptocratic communist system,” accusing the organization of diverting billions in state resources while ordinary Cubans continue to struggle with food shortages, failing infrastructure, and persistent blackouts.
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According to the U.S. State Department, GAESA controls at least 40 percent of the Cuban economy and may hold as much as US$20 billion in illicit assets overseas. The sanctions also target GAESA executive Ania Guillermina Lastres Morera.
“While the Cuban people suffer from hunger, disease, and chronic under-investment in critical infrastructure such as its power grid, much of the proceeds of GAESA’s activities are funneled away to hidden overseas bank accounts,” Rubio said.
The sanctions package additionally includes Moa Nickel SA, a company operating in Cuba’s metals and mining sector. U.S. officials claim the entity exploits the country’s natural resources to financially benefit the Cuban government.
Moa Nickel SA had previously operated as a joint venture involving Sherritt International Corporation and the Cuban state-owned La Compañía General de Niquel. Following the announcement, Sherritt reportedly confirmed it would suspend direct involvement in operations in Cuba and begin repatriating employees.
The latest measures stem from an executive order signed by Donald Trump last week, expanding sanctions against Cuban government officials, security agencies, and individuals accused of corruption or human rights violations. The White House said the move was intended to counter what it described as Cuba’s “malign influence.”
The sanctions come as Cuba faces mounting economic hardship intensified by a U.S. oil embargo imposed earlier this year. In March, the country experienced a widespread collapse of its national electrical grid, leaving nearly 11 million residents without power for more than a day. The crisis has compounded existing shortages of food, medicine, fuel, and clean water.
The Trump administration has openly linked economic pressure to political reform efforts in Havana, with reports suggesting Washington hopes increased sanctions could weaken Díaz-Canel’s government and force leadership changes on the island.
Despite the escalating tensions, diplomatic discussions appear to remain possible. Reports indicate a U.S. State Department delegation traveled to Cuba in April to discuss humanitarian concerns and potential areas of cooperation.
Meanwhile, Ernesto Soberón Guzmán reiterated Havana’s position that any future dialogue with Washington must respect Cuba’s sovereignty and independence.
“If someone thinks that words like ‘give up,’ ‘surrender’ or ‘collapse’ are in the Cuban people’s dictionary, that person, those people are sorely mistaken,” Guzmán said during a recent appearance on Fox News.
He maintained that any diplomatic relationship between the two countries must be built on “reciprocity, equal footing, respect, sovereignty, and non-interference in internal affairs.”
