Washington (TDI): US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order expanding sanctions against the Cuban government, significantly widening Washington’s pressure campaign on Havana.
According to US officials, the new measures target individuals, entities and affiliates linked to Cuba’s security apparatus, as well as those accused of corruption or serious human rights violations. The sanctions could also extend to foreign individuals and companies operating in key sectors of the Cuban economy, including energy, defense, mining, financial services and security.
The order further authorises so-called secondary sanctions, meaning penalties could be imposed on third parties that conduct or facilitate transactions with sanctioned individuals or organisations.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel strongly criticized the move, describing it as part of a “brutal” and coercive US blockade. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla said the measures amount to “collective punishment” and insisted Cuba would not be intimidated.
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Analysts say the latest step marks one of the most significant expansions of US sanctions on Cuba in years, particularly because it could impact non-American companies doing business with the island.
The move is part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to increase pressure on Cuba’s leadership, which Washington accuses of supporting hostile actors and undermining regional stability. The White House has argued that the sanctions are necessary to counter security threats and hold the Cuban government accountable, according to Reuters.
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The latest measures come amid an already deepening economic crisis in Cuba, worsened by fuel shortages, blackouts and declining external support. Observers warn that further restrictions could intensify economic hardship on the island while increasing geopolitical tensions in the region.
