In a new escalation, the United States announced a new round of sanctions against Cuba, directly targeting Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel and members of his family, as well as influential figures from the Castro family. This decision comes as the administration of US President Donald Trump intensifies its political and economic pressure on the Cuban government, aiming to bring about changes in its domestic and foreign policies.
The sanctions list, announced by the US Treasury Department, includes the son and grandson of former President Raúl Castro (95), who, despite stepping down from official positions, remains a pivotal figure in Havana's decision-making circles. The measures also target President Díaz-Canel's wife and his son from a previous marriage, along with the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces and other related entities, reflecting a broad targeting of the inner circle of power.
Roots of the tension: A long history of blockades and sanctions
Relations between the United States and Cuba have been strained for decades, specifically since the 1959 Cuban Revolution that brought Fidel Castro to power. In response to the nationalization of American property and Cuba's rapprochement with the Soviet Union, Washington imposed a comprehensive economic, trade, and financial embargo in 1962. This embargo, which Havana describes as "economic warfare," has profoundly impacted the lives of Cubans for more than six decades. Relations experienced a brief period of historic détente under the Obama administration, but these efforts were quickly reversed with the arrival of President Trump in the White House, who reinstated the maximum pressure policy and imposed dozens of new punitive measures.
The repercussions of the decision and its impact on the future of Al Jazeera
These sanctions are expected to exacerbate Cuba's already dire economic crisis, which is plagued by severe shortages of food, fuel, and medicine. Washington aims to cripple the Cuban government's ability to finance its operations and restrict its access to hard currency through these measures. Internationally, this move is seen as a continuation of the unilateral US policy toward Cuba, a policy that has frequently faced widespread condemnation in the UN General Assembly. For his part, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel strongly criticized the decision, calling it "aggressive and perverse," and asserting that these measures "reinforce the blockade and the scenario of conflict between the two countries." He affirmed that his country will not yield to pressure and will continue to "resist the imperialist attack.".
