U.S. sanctions Cuban President Díaz-Canel and Castro family members

The United States has levied new sanctions against Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel and several individuals connected to the Castro family, according to an announcement by the U.S. Treasury Department. This action represents a renewed effort to exert pressure on Cuba's communist government.

Díaz-Canel, who assumed the presidency in 2018, was previously sanctioned last year for his role in suppressing 2021 protests. The latest wave of sanctions targets Alejandro Castro Espín, son of former President Raúl Castro, along with Raúl Alejandro Castro, Raúl Castro's grandson, and Manuel Anido Cuesta, Díaz-Canel's stepson. Additionally, five entities, including Cuba's Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, are affected.

Washington accuses Cuba of posing a security threat, while Havana maintains its willingness to negotiate without compromising its sovereignty. These sanctions follow previous measures imposed by the Trump administration on 11 Cuban officials and intelligence agencies. The U.S. has also accused Raúl Castro of complicity in a 1996 incident where Cuban planes downed U.S.-based exile group aircraft.

The newly imposed sanctions freeze the U.S. assets of the designated individuals and entities and forbid American banks, companies, and citizens from engaging in any transactions involving them. These designations stem from an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump, which also allows for "secondary sanctions" on foreign firms and banks doing business in key Cuban sectors like energy, defense, and mining. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also accused Cuba of sponsoring terrorism and harboring Chinese and Russian intelligence facilities.

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Cuba has sponsored terrorism and has supported various groups. Practically all violent radical left-wing terrorist groups in Latin America have, at some point, depended on Cuba's support.