Secretary of State Marco Rubio unveiled new U.S. sanctions Thursday targeting Cuba's military-industrial complex and state-owned natural resources enterprises, marking a continued escalation in the Trump administration's efforts to pressure the Cuban regime.
The sanctions, authorized under President Trump's May 1 executive order, specifically target GRUPO DE ADMINISTRACION EMPRESARIAL S.A. (GAESA), a military-controlled enterprise dominating sectors like tourism and hospitality. Rubio described GAESA as 'the heart of Cuba’s kleptocratic communist system,' accusing it of exploiting the Cuban economy for the regime's benefit.
Entities Targeted
Also sanctioned is ANIA GUILLERMINA LASTRES MORERA, a senior leader within GAESA, and MOA NICKEL SA (MNSA), a state-owned mining operation. Rubio highlighted that MNSA profits from resources originally expropriated from U.S. corporations, further underscoring the administration's focus on reclaiming American interests.
'These sanctions are part of the Trump Administration's comprehensive campaign to address the pressing national security threats posed by Cuba’s communist regime,' Rubio stated. 'The Cuban regime has auctioned off the island as a platform for foreign intelligence, military, and terror operations.'
The announcement follows heightened U.S. military and diplomatic preparations, including the deployment of State Department personnel to U.S. Southern Command in Miami and the bolstering of disaster-preparedness supplies in South Florida. Rubio hinted at further sanctions and did not rule out military action, signaling a sustained push for regime change.