United States' New Sanctions Against Cuba (May 2026)

The United States’ new sanctions imposed on Cuba in May 2026 are included. The decisions, described by United Nations experts as “energy starvation,” have also brought humanitarian crisis debates to the forefront. The U.S. administration has increased pressure on the Havana government through new sanctions targeting Cuba’s military-linked economic structures and energy resources, while the Cuban government has characterized these steps as “collective punishment” and a “dangerous policy that could lead to humanitarian catastrophe.”

At the center of the new sanctions announced by the U.S. administration is Grupo de Administracion Empresarial SA (GAESA), a major economic entity linked to the Cuban military. In addition to GAESA, which exerts influence across many sectors of the Cuban economy—from tourism and energy to transportation and finance—Ania Guillermina Lastres Morera, a manager of the company, has also been added to the sanctions list.

The sanctions also target Moa Nickel SA, a joint venture between Toronto-based Sherritt International Corp and a Cuban state-owned nickel company. Sherritt International has announced that it has suspended direct participation in its joint venture operations in Cuba following the imposition of sanctions.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a statement on the social media platform X, stated that the Trump administration would not retreat from its stance against the communist regime in Cuba, saying, “The Trump administration will not allow the communist regime in Cuba to threaten our national security in our hemisphere.” Rubio also emphasized that sanctions would remain in place until political and economic reforms are implemented.

The core of the U.S. administration’s recent pressure policy has been the restriction of Cuba’s access to energy resources. The Washington administration has blocked Venezuela’s long-standing shipments of oil to Cuba and issued presidential decrees threatening sanctions against countries and companies transporting fuel to the island.

This process has been assessed by international circles as a “de facto fuel blockade.” In recent months, only one Russian oil tanker has managed to reach Cuba, further exacerbating the country’s energy crisis.

Due to energy shortages, prolonged power outages have occurred, transportation systems have been disrupted, and economic activity has significantly slowed.

United Nations special rapporteurs have strongly criticized the U.S. administration for the humanitarian consequences of its sanctions, highlighting that fuel shortages have paralyzed essential public services and constitute what they term “energy starvation.”

The rapporteurs noted that energy shortages have severe impacts on healthcare, education, water infrastructure, and basic living conditions. They stated that people are struggling to reach hospitals, children are unable to attend school, and over 96,000 surgeries have been postponed, approximately 11,000 of which involve pediatric patients.

The UN experts further stated that “the use of energy starvation as a tool of coercion is incompatible with international human rights norms.”

The Cuban government has defined the U.S. sanctions as “unilateral coercive measures” and “collective punishment targeting the Cuban people.”

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, in his assessment of statements by U.S. President Donald Trump, said the Washington administration is following an extremely dangerous path. Rodriguez stated, “This path could lead to unimaginable consequences—a humanitarian catastrophe, genocide, and the loss of lives of Cubans and young Americans. It could also result in massacres in Cuba.”

Rodriguez also argued that Cuba does not constitute any security threat to the United States and reiterated that discussions regarding Cuba’s political system are non-negotiable. At the same time, he affirmed that the Havana government remains open to dialogue.

U.S. President Donald Trump has intensified his harsh rhetoric toward the Cuban government in recent months. In a statement on 2 May 2026, Trump described Cuba as “a place that will soon be taken over by those who will seize control,” a remark that the Havana government directly interpreted as a threat.

In response, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel stated, “No matter how powerful it may be, no aggressor will find surrender in Cuba.”

The Trump administration’s Cuba policy has been interpreted as signaling a new phase of tension reminiscent of the Cold War era, combining economic pressure, energy restrictions, and hints of military intervention.

It has been alleged that the United States has significantly increased its military intelligence and surveillance activities around Cuba in recent months. Reports in the American press indicate that the Washington administration’s reconnaissance flights near Cuban coasts have not only increased in number but also become more visibly prominent.

According to an analysis by CNN based on publicly available flight data and aviation tracking platforms, the U.S. Navy and Air Force have conducted at least 25 reconnaissance and intelligence flights near Cuba since 4 February. Most of these flights have concentrated around Havana and Santiago de Cuba, with some aircraft approaching within approximately 64 kilometers of Cuban coastlines. Reports indicate that advanced surveillance platforms such as the P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, the RC-135V Rivet Joint electronic intelligence aircraft, and the MQ-4C Triton unmanned aerial vehicle have been deployed in these operations. These aircraft have previously been used in U.S. operations around Venezuela and Iran.

A U.S. delegation led by Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John Ratcliffe held talks with Cuban officials in the capital Havana. According to Cuban state media outlet Cuba Debate, the meeting addressed cooperation between law enforcement agencies of the two countries as well as regional and international security issues.

The Cuban government stated during the meeting that it does not host, support or finance any terrorist or extremist organizations. It also affirmed that no foreign military or intelligence bases exist on its territory.

According to Reuters, Ratcliffe conveyed the message of the Donald Trump administration to the Cuban government. The message indicated that Washington would be prepared to engage in negotiations on economic and security matters if Havana implements fundamental changes.

In a statement on May 12, Trump said Cuba had requested assistance from the United States and that talks between the two countries would take place.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that 11 Cuban officials and three entities linked to the Cuban government have been added to the sanctions list.

In a written statement, Rubio said the sanctions target Cuban government officials and military personnel connected to security forces. The statement noted that the political and economic situation in Cuba is being closely monitored and that additional sanctions remain under consideration.

U.S. President Trump argued that Cuba is a “collapsed state” and suggested that solutions to its political and economic problems could only be achieved through engagement with the United States.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel accused the United States of seeking a pretext for military intervention and warned that such a scenario would turn the region into a “sea of blood.”

A report by Politico suggests that the Trump administration is taking the option of military action more seriously due to the failure of economic and diplomatic pressure on Cuba.

Sources cited in the report stated that U.S. economic pressure tools such as the oil embargo against Cuba have not produced the expected results. Officials assessed that Cuba has proven more resilient than anticipated.

According to the sources, potential military options range from limited air strikes to ground operations aimed at regime change.

The report also recalled that on January 30, Trump signed a presidential decree imposing customs duties on goods imported from countries that sell or supply oil to Cuba.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a Spanish-language video message issued on the occasion of Cuban Independence Day, announced that the Trump administration is offering the Cuban people a “new relationship.”

Rubio blamed the Cuban government for the country’s economic hardships and argued that a “new Cuba” is possible. He asserted that the shortages of electricity, fuel and food in the country stem from government mismanagement.

Rubio stated that the Trump administration has offered $100 million in food and medical aid to the Cuban people and emphasized that such assistance must be delivered through trusted humanitarian organizations.

The statement also highlighted the role of GAESA, a Cuban state-owned holding company, noting its operations in hotels, energy companies, banks and construction.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez responded to Marco Rubio’s “new relationship” remarks. Rodriguez stated that the U.S. economic embargo and energy blockade against Cuba have caused severe consequences and accused the Washington administration of attempting to shift blame for this situation onto the Cuban government.

Addressing Rubio’s $100 million aid offer, Rodriguez said Cuba does not reject humanitarian assistance but views the U.S. approach as “hypocritical.”

The statement also noted that May 20 is viewed in Cuba as the beginning of a new colonial era of dependence on the United States and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to its principles of independence and sovereignty.

U.S. President Donald Trump asserted that the economic and political situation in Cuba is dire and declared, “We will liberate Cuba.”

Trump said the Cuban people have requested assistance from the United States and highlighted the shortages of food and electricity in the country. He described the Cuban people as “wonderful people.” He claimed the United States has expertise on Cuba and that the population has long been waiting for change. When asked about lifting the embargo, he did not provide a specific timeline but indicated that new announcements would be made soon.

Trump’s remarks followed the announcement by Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche of an indictment accusing former Cuban leader Raul Castro and others of conspiring to kill U.S. citizens.

U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) announced that the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier, along with the USS Gridley and USNS Patuxent, has been deployed to the Caribbean. The statement noted that the USS Nimitz has operated in multiple regions including the Taiwan Strait and the Persian Gulf and demonstrated its combat capabilities. This deployment was presented as evidence of U.S. preparedness and military presence in the region.

In March, the U.S. Navy announced that the USS Nimitz’s deployment had been extended by approximately one year. This development occurred amid rising tensions between the United States and Cuba. The Trump administration continues to enforce economic sanctions and oil embargo policies against Cuba.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he wants to provide humanitarian assistance to Cuba due to its economic crisis. He highlighted shortages of food, electricity and economic resources in the country and said Cubans living in the United States have appealed to him for help. In his remarks, Trump noted that some Cubans wish to return to their homeland to invest and criticized previous U.S. administrations for not paying sufficient attention to Cuba.