In Washington and Havana on January 31 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the U.S. would reimpose restrictions on financial transactions involving numerous Cuban military and government-associated entities. This decision comes shortly after the Biden administration had moved to relax these sanctions.
Rubio disclosed that the Trump administration would reinstate the "Cuba Restricted List," which prohibits specific dealings with entities linked to the Cuban military, intelligence, or security services. He emphasized the intent to target those considered "repressive."
Following Biden's actions to remove Cuba from the U.S. terrorism blacklist and restrict lawsuits related to property seized during Fidel Castro's revolution in 1959, Trump has reversed these changes, revealing a more stringent approach towards the communist-governed island, a historic adversary of the United States.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez criticized Rubio's announcements, denouncing them as "unjustifiable." He warned that intensifying punitive measures against the Cuban populace would exacerbate shortages, increase separations, and fuel greater emigration.
Earlier this month, Cuba had agreed to release over 500 prisoners in a pact with the Vatican as a result of Biden's initial easing of sanctions on the island in early January. However, reports from human rights organizations indicate that these releases have been halted, leaving Biden's agreement with Cuba in a state of uncertainty amidst escalating sanctions by the Trump administration.
Subsequently, Rubio moved to include Orbit S.A., a Cuban company authorized for remittance transactions with Western Union, back onto the restricted list. This decision is expected to complicate money transfers between the significant Cuban-American community and their relatives on the island.