The United States is preparing to expand its sanctions regime against Cuba, according to Mike Hammer, the top U.S. diplomat in Havana. Speaking at a press conference in Miami, Hammer warned that the recent visa bans imposed on Cuban judicial officials mark just the beginning of a broader crackdown.
“The sanctions announced this Wednesday were just the beginning,” Hammer declared. “This administration is determined to sanction repressors. There will be consequences for their actions.”
- Advertisement -
Earlier this week, the U.S. barred entry to three Cuban judges and a prosecutor accused of persecuting political dissidents. This move follows a broader escalation under President Donald Trump’s second administration, which has reinstated Cuba’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, restricted remittances, and dismantled several Biden-era migration initiatives.
Hammer, 61, is a career diplomat and Spanish speaker who assumed his post in Havana six months ago. Since then, he has toured the island extensively, meeting with dissidents, small business owners, and local communities. Videos shared by the U.S. Embassy show him playing dominoes with children in Camagüey, visiting national hero José Martí’s tomb in Santiago, and consoling relatives of political prisoners.
The backdrop to Hammer’s remarks is a deepening economic crisis in Cuba, described as the worst in decades. The Cuban government continues to blame the U.S. embargo and financial restrictions for the deteriorating conditions. However, Hammer asserted that ordinary Cubans reject that narrative.
“The people recognize that those responsible are the Cuban regime. It has nothing to do with any policy of the United States,” he said.
His comments have drawn sharp criticism from Cuban officials. Johana Tablada, a senior Cuban diplomat overseeing U.S.-Cuba relations, accused Hammer of engaging in political subversion.
“Hammer’s comments were not part of a neutral press conference, but rather a carefully orchestrated political operation… designed to position the Trump administration and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as though they were ‘allies of the Cuban people,’” Tablada stated.
Although the Cuban government has not restricted Hammer’s movements, state-run media recently issued a warning that its “patience has limits.” In response, Hammer signaled his intent to continue his outreach on the island.
“What are they scared of? I’m just a simple chief of mission talking with the people,” he said.
The intensifying U.S.-Cuba standoff comes as international human rights groups continue to call for greater transparency and dialogue. Meanwhile, Washington appears committed to ramping up its pressure campaign in what officials describe as a defense of democracy and civil liberties in the region.
