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US Sanctions Cuban Military Conglomerate Gaesa and Canadian Miner Sherritt

From El Nacional · (3h ago) Spanish Critical tone

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • The U.S. has sanctioned Cuba's military conglomerate Gaesa and Canadian mining company Sherritt under a new executive order targeting the island nation.
  • The sanctions, announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, aim to increase pressure on Cuba, which the U.S. deems an "extraordinary threat" to national security.
  • Sherritt has suspended its operations in Cuba and is repatriating employees following the sanctions, which significantly alter its business capacity on the island.

The recent U.S. sanctions against Cuba's military conglomerate Gaesa and Canadian mining firm Sherritt represent a significant escalation of American policy towards the island. The sanctions, enacted under a recent executive order by Donald Trump, target key economic entities, with the U.S. State Department labeling Cuba a continued "extraordinary threat" to national security. This move, spearheaded by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a prominent critic of the Cuban government, signals a hardening stance and an intent to further isolate the island economically.

The island nation continues to represent an 'extraordinary threat' to the national security of the United States.

— Donald TrumpJustification for the executive order imposing new sanctions on Cuba.

For Sherritt, the impact has been immediate. The company has announced the suspension of its operations in Cuba and the repatriation of its employees. The sanctions directly affect Sherritt's nickel and cobalt extraction in the Moa mine through a joint venture with the Cuban state. The company cited that these measures "substantially alter the capacity" for its business in Cuba, potentially deterring financial and other suppliers from supporting its operations. This follows previous operational suspensions by Sherritt in February due to U.S. fuel blockades.

This joint venture has exploited Cuba's natural resources for the benefit of the regime at the expense of the Cuban people and profits from assets originally expropriated by the Cuban regime from U.S. persons and companies.

— Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of StateExplaining the rationale for sanctioning the Sherritt-Cuba joint venture.

The sanctions against Gaesa, which controls a substantial portion of Cuba's economy, are particularly aimed at its leadership, including Brigadier General Ania Guillermina Lastres Morera. Rubio explicitly stated that Gaesa is designed to benefit a "corrupt elite" rather than the Cuban people. The U.S. has indicated that further punitive measures are expected in the coming days and weeks, suggesting a sustained campaign to dismantle Cuba's economic infrastructure and pressure its government. This aggressive approach, rooted in decades of U.S. policy, continues to shape the economic and political landscape of Cuba, with significant implications for international businesses operating there.

Gaesa is designed to generate revenue not for the Cuban people, but solely for the benefit of its corrupt elite.

— Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of StateDescribing the purpose of the Gaesa conglomerate.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Nacional in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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