US Sanctions Five Cuban Companies, Castro Relative Amid Economic Crisis

The United States government has intensified its pressure campaign against Cuba by announcing new sanctions targeting five companies affiliated with the military conglomerate GAESA and Raúl Castro's daughter-in-law, Annalie Lilliam. The sanctioned entities include GAESA's financial intermediaries Rafin and Banco Financiero Internacional, its logistics arm Almacenes Universales, state-owned mining company Geominera, and Antillana de Acero, Cuba's largest steel producer.

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GAESA continues to operate as the financial muscle behind the Cuban regime’s repressive security apparatus.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that GAESA "continues to operate as the financial muscle behind the Cuban regime’s repressive security apparatus." This move follows recent sanctions imposed on other regime-linked companies and individuals, including Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel and members of the Castro family. Washington has previously implemented an "energy blockade," which has exacerbated Cuba's already severe economic crisis.

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The US government, led by its dishonest and mendacious Secretary of State, continues to tighten the noose around Cuba’s economy.

The sanctions freeze any US-based assets belonging to the listed entities and individuals. They also prohibit them from accessing the US financial system or conducting business with American counterparts. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez criticized the US government, writing on X that it "continues to tighten the noose around Cuba’s economy."

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Fuel restrictions imposed since early 2026 and the recent tightening of extraterritorial sanctions are directly harming Cubans, particularly the most vulnerable.

Meanwhile, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, urged the US to "immediately" lift the accumulating sanctions. Turk stated in a June 8 statement that "Fuel restrictions imposed since early 2026 and the recent tightening of extraterritorial sanctions are directly harming Cubans, particularly the most vulnerable." The sanctions have deepened the economic crisis, leading to widespread shortages of food, fuel, water, and medicine, and frequent power outages, causing significant hardship for Cuba's 9.6 million inhabitants.

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Never in my life did I expect to see Cubans looking for food in the trash or begging. It hurts. It hurts a lot.