The U.S. Treasury Department announced a new round of sanctions targeting Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, his relatives, and members of the Castro family, intending to increase pressure on the communist government. Meanwhile, Cuban leaders immediately condemned the move as a reprehensible act of interference.
The U.S. government unveiled new sanctions focusing on 66-year-old Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, his wife Lis Cuesta Peraza, and their adopted child. The measures also cover four other individuals and five organizations, including the son and grandson of Raúl Castro, former Cuban president and a politically influential figure behind Cuba's military Revolutionary Armed Forces.
This latest move represents the U.S.'s ongoing effort to intensify pressure on Cuba's communist leadership. Last month, the U.S. sanctioned 11 Cuban officials, including the Minister of Communications, military leaders, and key intelligence agents. Additionally, the U.S. filed a murder lawsuit against Raúl Castro over a 1996 incident in which Cuban warplanes shot down a plane carrying Cuban refugees.
U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House that he simply wanted to see Cuba become a well-managed country capable of supporting its own people. "But right now, that country is starving. They have no energy, no oil, no money, nothing—even though Cuba has beautiful land that could be developed into stunning resorts," he said.
Trump also hinted that Cuba might be the next regime to collapse, following the path of Venezuelan socialist leader Nicolás Maduro's downfall earlier this year. He stated, "We will deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran first, and once that mission is complete, on the way back, we'll make a brief stop there [Cuba]." However, Trump denied that the latest sanctions aim to hasten Cuba's collapse.
In response, President Miguel Díaz-Canel posted on platform X, accusing Trump of trying to "escalate the blockade and create conflict between Cuba and the U.S." He declared that Cuba would stand firm against the aggression and evil of the Yankee government (U.S.) and imperialist assaults.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez condemned the sanctions as "disgusting" and the latest example of U.S. interference, emphasizing that "every U.S. action aimed at creating conflict between the two countries is doomed to fail." He added that the Cuban people will respond with greater unity and determination.
Since early this year, U.S. sanctions and bans on oil shipments have severely impacted Cuba's public utilities, causing a shortage of diesel fuel for power generators. This has led to power outages lasting up to 22 hours daily and disruptions to the water supply system.
Currently, this crisis has paralyzed Cuba's transportation system and caused severe shortages of food and medicine, forcing reliance on aid from Mexico and China. Moreover, the island's eastern region continues recovering from damage caused by Hurricane Melissa, which struck in October last year.
The United Nations representative in Cuba warned that the humanitarian crisis, combined with the Caribbean's hurricane season, is becoming "a dangerous mix ready to explode at any moment."