US imposes new sanctions on Cuban president and Castro family members | Cuba

The United States has announced new economic sanctions against the Cuban president and some members of his immediate family, as well as members of the Castro family, as Washington steps up pressure on its communist-led neighbor for the latest time.

Among those targeted were the son and grandson of former president Raúl Castro, who no longer holds an official position but remains a key figure in decisions about the island’s future.

President Miguel Diaz-Canel, his wife and stepson were also affected by the Treasury Department’s latest sanctions issued on Thursday, as were the Ministry of Revolutionary Armed Forces and several other organizations.

The United States has embargoed Cuba for decades, but US President Donald Trump has greatly increased pressure on the island in recent months and is openly mulling a takeover.

The de facto fuel blockade has deepened the island’s energy crisis and hit its already fragile economy.

U.S. secretary of state Marco Rubio said in

Rubio said the sanctions now apply to Cuba’s ministry of revolutionary armed forces, the Cuban Institute for Friendship with the Peoples, Amistur Cuba and the committees for the defense of the revolution.

“Anyone who provides services to these sanctioned actors faces sanctions risk. Foreign banks and other companies that provide services to these entities should freeze these activities,” Rubio said.

Treasury’s latest actions follow a move in 2025 when Washington restricted visas to the Cuban president and other senior government officials.

Trump has repeatedly signaled that the Cuban government could be the next government after Venezuela to bow to US pressure.