United States Imposes Fresh Sanctions on Cuban Military Mining Company

The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on a Cuban military conglomerate that controls nearly 40 per cent of the island’s economy, as well as a Canadian mining company, as part of a mounting pressure campaign against the Cuban government. The sanctions were announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and target the Gaesa conglomerate as well as a joint venture involving Canadian mining company Sherritt, which, in a near-simultaneous announcement, said it was leaving Cuba. 

The new measures were imposed under an executive order signed last week by US President Donald Trump that outlines parts of the Cuban economy for which foreign banks would incur sanctions if they have transactions. Gaesa was already under US sanctions prior to Thursday’s announcement.

Speaking at a press briefing in Washington, Rubio said just 90 miles from the American homeland, the Cuban regime has brought the island to ruin and auctioned it off as a platform for foreign intelligence, military and terror operations. He warned that additional designations can be expected in the following days and weeks. 

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Writing on X, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said that with the additional measures of collective punishment announced against Cuba, the US government confirms its genocidal intention against the Cuban nation and clears all doubts on the false nature of its pretexts to attack the country. In January, the US halted oil shipments from Cuba’s main supplier, Venezuela and threatened other countries with tariffs if they sought to make up the shortfall. Three UN special experts said Thursday that the fuel blockade amounted to energy starvation and had grave consequences for human rights and development.