Cuba's Remaining Lifelines in Peril as Trump Widens U.S. Sanctions
Donald Trump's administration continues to threaten military force to dislodge the 67-year-old regime. On Friday, Trump unveiled measures that would allow Washington to target almost any non-US citizen or entity involved in business on the island. These sweeping new economic sanctions could chase international companies off Cuba, as the U.S. intensifies pressure for regime change.
Sanctions Target Key Sectors
While specific targets are yet to be determined, the order says it will focus on defense, mining, finance, and security. The sanctions raise questions for companies including Turkey's Karpowership, which runs an energy barge in Havana, and Canada's Sherritt International, which mines for nickel and cobalt in Cuba, said William LeoGrande, a professor of government and a specialist in U.S.-Latin American relations at American University in Washington.
Financial Institutions at Risk
Also under the latest sanctions, financial institutions that have handled transactions with certain Cuban individuals and entities could be cut out of the U.S. banking system. LeoGrande described the sanctions as incredibly broad, expecting the Trump administration to use the new economic weapon to terrify companies into quitting the island. Karpowership and Sherritt did not respond to requests for comment.
Military Threats Escalate
Hours after publishing the sanctions, Trump teased a possible military intervention in Cuba during comments to an audience in Florida. In what appeared to be a joke, he said that when the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier returns from the war with Iran, it could stop about 100 yards offshore Cuba, and they would say thank you and give up. We will be taking over almost immediately, Trump claimed.
Fuel Blockade and Negotiations
Trump's administration has imposed a near-total fuel blockade on the island since January as it presses for outright regime change. Cuba has said that, although the two sides are negotiating, its form of government and leadership are not up for discussion. On Saturday, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel called the new U.S. military threats dangerous and unprecedented. He stated that the international community must take note and determine whether such a drastic criminal act will be allowed. No aggressor, no matter how powerful, will force Cuba to surrender, he wrote on X.
