The Trump administration has unveiled a new package of sanctions against Cuba, escalating economic pressure on Havana by targeting businesses linked to the country’s powerful military-run commercial empire and a member of the extended Castro family. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the measures on Tuesday, saying the sanctions are aimed at entities that generate revenue for the Cuban government and help sustain what Washington describes as an authoritarian regime.
The latest action adds five organisations and one individual to the US sanctions list, further tightening restrictions on Cuba’s already isolated economy. “Today, I am designating five Cuban entities generating revenue for the Cuban regime, including three associated with the previously designated Grupo de Administración Empresarial SA (GAESA), and one member of the extended Castro family,” Rubio said in a statement.
The move comes as relations between Washington and Havana remain deeply strained. President Donald Trump has repeatedly adopted a hard-line approach towards Cuba and has recently intensified criticism of the communist government.
Who Has Been Sanctioned?
According to the US State Department, the individual targeted is Annalie Lilliam Rueda Cardero, the wife of Alejandro Castro Espin, a former intelligence official and son of former Cuban President Raul Castro. The sanctions also target five Cuban entities. Three of them — Almacenes Universales SA (AUSA), Rafin SA and Banco Financeiro Internacional SA (BFI) — are linked to Grupo de Administración Empresarial S.A., commonly known as GAESA.
The remaining entities named by Washington are Geominera SA and Empresa Siderurgica Jose Marti. US officials argue that these organisations provide financial resources and commercial support to the Cuban state. By restricting access to the US financial system and imposing sanctions, Washington hopes to limit the flow of revenue into government-controlled structures.
Why GAESA Remains A Key Target
GAESA occupies a unique position within Cuba’s economy. The military-controlled conglomerate has extensive interests across tourism, banking, logistics, retail, real estate and foreign trade. For years, successive US administrations have viewed GAESA as one of the principal economic pillars supporting the Cuban government. As a result, businesses associated with the group have frequently been targeted under American sanctions programmes.
The latest measures are part of a broader US embargo framework that dates back more than six decades. The embargo was formally established in February 1962 when President John F. Kennedy imposed sweeping trade restrictions on Cuba following tensions between Washington and Havana during the Cold War. While supporters of sanctions argue they pressure the Cuban leadership and restrict government revenue streams, critics contend the measures have contributed to economic hardship for ordinary Cubans without producing major political reforms.
The new sanctions nevertheless signal that the Trump administration intends to maintain a confrontational approach towards Cuba. By targeting entities linked to GAESA and individuals connected to the Castro family, Washington is once again focusing on what it sees as the financial foundations of the Cuban state.