The Trump administration has imposed a fresh wave of sanctions on Cuba, blacklisting twelve entities and individuals over claims they form part of a state-sponsored subversion network operating on American soil. The measures, announced on Thursday, mark a significant escalation in Washington’s economic pressure campaign against Havana and directly target the leadership of an organisation historically used for cultural diplomacy.
Targeting the “friendship” institute
The US State Department has sanctioned the Cuban Institute for Friendship with Peoples (ICAP), alongside the island’s Ministry of Construction and eight other legal entities. The action follows a May executive order by President Donald Trump that broadened restrictions against Cuban officials, security forces and their supporters.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio justified the designations by accusing ICAP of sponsoring what he described as an “extensive subversive network in the United States.” According to Rubio, the organisation is tasked with identifying, cultivating and radicalising elements operating under the guise of educational or cultural exchanges.
The Castro centenary
The diplomatic offensive appears timed to counter recent commemorations in Cuba. Rubio claimed that Havana had attempted to leverage the 100th anniversary of Fidel Castro’s birth to reactivate this network, drawing sympathisers to the island for direct meetings with state officials.
“Today’s sanctions make clear that the Trump administration will not tolerate the Cuban regime’s attempts to finance its repression or continue its decades-long campaign of subversive anti-American activity,” Rubio stated.
Havana decries “economic strangulation”
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla condemned the measures, arguing they are designed to cripple the Caribbean nation’s already struggling economy. He warned that the restrictions directly hinder the government’s ability to provide basic services to the population — services he says are in a critical state due to the ongoing US embargo.
In a statement on his official channel, Rodríguez noted that the US sanctions are now disrupting the transport of shipping containers carrying food, medicines and medical equipment. He emphasised that a significant portion of these goods is purchased by Cuba’s private small and medium-sized enterprises.
A clash of values
The Cuban diplomat stressed that the sanctions specifically punish the leadership and staff of ICAP, an organisation that has spent more than six decades promoting ideals of international solidarity, justice and peace. He contrasted these values sharply with the policies of the US Secretary of State.
The restrictions, formally enacted on August 20, target three representatives of the institute, the Cuban Ministry of Construction and eight legal entities. The US State Department maintains that members of these organisations pose a direct threat to the national security of the United States.
