Cuba Condemns New US Sanctions, Says Measures Aim to Further Strain Island’s Economy

Havana, June 2026 : Cuba has strongly condemned a new round of sanctions imposed by the United States on five state-owned entities and a member of the extended Castro family, accusing Washington of intensifying economic pressure on the island and worsening the hardships faced by ordinary citizens.

The latest measures, announced by the US administration, target organisations linked to key sectors of Cuba’s economy, including finance, logistics, mining and metallurgy. American officials said the sanctions are intended to restrict revenue streams that allegedly support the Cuban government and its security apparatus.

Reacting sharply to the announcement, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez criticized the move and accused the United States of pursuing a policy designed to damage Cuba’s economy.

In a statement posted on social media platform X, Rodríguez said the US government, under the leadership of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, was continuing efforts to tighten economic restrictions on the Caribbean nation. He argued that despite years of sanctions and pressure, Cuba had demonstrated resilience and remained capable of confronting what he described as “collective punishment” directed at the Cuban people.

The Cuban foreign minister further claimed that the measures represent an attempt to increase economic hardship and undermine living conditions across the country. He described the policy as unjust and accused Washington of using its global influence to exert pressure on a smaller nation.

According to information released by the US State Department, the sanctions target five state-owned Cuban entities, including three organisations connected to Grupo de Administración Empresarial S.A. (GAESA), the military-run conglomerate that oversees significant portions of Cuba’s economy.

US officials have long argued that GAESA serves as a critical financial pillar for the Cuban government and controls substantial interests in tourism, commerce, transportation, and financial services. The State Department stated that the newly sanctioned entities include financial institutions involved in processing and managing government funds, as well as a logistics company supporting operations throughout the island.

In addition to the GAESA-linked organisations, two other sanctioned entities operate within Cuba’s mining and metallurgical industries, sectors that remain important sources of export revenue for the country.

Announcing the measures, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the sanctions form part of a broader strategy aimed at limiting resources available to the Cuban government. He argued that the targeted entities and individuals play a role in supporting activities that Washington considers harmful both within Cuba and across the wider region.

Rubio specifically described GAESA as the financial backbone of Cuba’s security structure, asserting that the organisation continues to provide economic support to state institutions accused by the United States of restricting political freedoms and civil liberties.

The sanctions mark the latest chapter in decades of strained relations between Washington and Havana. While diplomatic ties have fluctuated over the years, economic restrictions imposed by the United States remain one of the most contentious issues in bilateral relations.

Cuban officials maintain that the longstanding US embargo and successive rounds of sanctions have significantly hindered economic development and contributed to shortages of essential goods. The United States, meanwhile, argues that sanctions are necessary to pressure the Cuban government to undertake political and economic reforms.

The latest measures are expected to further deepen tensions between the two countries, as Havana continues to reject what it views as external interference in its internal affairs.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)