Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the measures, saying they were designed to cut off revenue streams that support the Cuban government and its activities across the region….reports Asian Lite News
The Trump administration has broadened sanctions against Cuba, targeting five entities linked to key sectors of the island’s economy and a member of the Castro family in a move aimed at tightening financial pressure on Havana.
Announcing the measures, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the sanctions were directed at individuals and organisations that “fund, facilitate, or benefit from the regime’s malign activities, both in Cuba and across our hemisphere.”
The sanctions focus on three entities associated with Grupo de Administración Empresarial S.A. (GAESA), the military controlled conglomerate that Washington describes as the financial backbone of the Cuban government.
“GAESA continues to operate as the financial muscle behind the Cuban regime’s repressive security apparatus,” Rubio said.
According to the US State Department, two of the designated entities are financial institutions involved in handling funds for the Cuban government, while a third is a logistics company that supports operations across the island.
Among those sanctioned is ALMACENES UNIVERSALES S.A. (AUSA), a GAESA subsidiary that provides storage, transportation and port related services. The State Department said the company controls container traffic at Cuba’s Mariel Special Development Zone, a major logistics hub that has attracted foreign investment.
The administration also designated RAFIN S.A. and BANCO FINANCIERO INTERNACIONAL S.A. (BFI), both active in Cuba’s financial services sector. US officials said RAFIN functions as a key financial management arm of GAESA, while BFI manages a significant share of banking transactions involving foreign businesses operating in Cuba.
Washington also expanded its pressure campaign to Cuba’s mining and metals industries.
The State Department sanctioned GEOMINERA, S.A., a state owned enterprise responsible for managing Cuba’s non nickel mineral assets and working with foreign investors, including Australian based Antilles Gold. It also designated EMPRESA SIDERURGICA JOSE MARTI, known as Antillana de Acero, the country’s largest producer of raw steel.
In addition, the administration imposed sanctions on Annalie Lilliam Rueda Cardero, citing her status as an adult family member of Alejandro Castro Espín, the former head of Cuban intelligence services and son of former Cuban leader Raúl Castro. Alejandro Castro Espín was sanctioned by Washington earlier this month.
The State Department further warned that foreign companies and financial institutions engaging with sanctioned entities, or operating in Cuba’s financial, mining, security, defence or energy sectors, could face sanctions exposure under US regulations.
The latest measures mark a further escalation of Washington’s economic pressure campaign against Cuba, targeting sectors viewed by US officials as critical sources of revenue for the government.
