US imposes new sanctions on Cuba, targeting construction ministry and ICAP leaders

The United States has intensified its pressure on Cuba with a new wave of sanctions targeting key economic sectors and individuals. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Thursday that nine Cuban entities, primarily in the mining and metallurgy industries, are now subject to U.S. sanctions. He asserted these organizations prop up the "repressive apparatus of the regime" by controlling vital economic areas.

Rubio also targeted leaders of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP), accusing the organization of operating a significant network within the United States. This network, he claims, aims to identify, recruit, and radicalize subversive elements, often using educational or cultural exchanges as a cover. The U.S. alleges that the Cuban regime recently attempted to leverage Fidel Castro's centenary to reactivate this network by sending international sympathizers to Havana.

The sanctions are being implemented under Executive Order 14404, signed by President Trump in 2026, which targets those responsible for repression in Cuba and threats to U.S. national security. Rubio specifically identified ICAP president Fernando González Llort, a "convicted Cuban spy" who served 15 years in U.S. prison for his role in the Wasp Network espionage ring. Rubio stated that Llort has continued his efforts to destabilize the U.S. since returning to Cuba and leading ICAP.

These measures come amid an existing de facto oil blockade imposed by the U.S. since January, which has exacerbated Cuba's energy crisis and led to frequent power outages. The Trump administration has also previously sanctioned Gaesa, a conglomerate controlled by the military and founded by Raúl Castro, which is a central focus of U.S. policy toward the island. Rubio emphasized that these designations signal the administration's intolerance for the Cuban regime's efforts to fund repression and its ongoing decades-long campaign of anti-American activities.