Washington imposes new sanctions against Cuba

The United States imposed a new round of sanctions against Cuba on Thursday, targeting the electronics sector and the daughter of the president of the economic-military conglomerate Gaesa. Relations between the United States and Cuba, under American embargo since 1962, have become considerably strained since the start of the year.

Washington imposes a de facto oil blockade on the island of 9.4 million inhabitants, which has worsened the energy crisis and regularly causes long power outages. Washington has also increased sanctions against Cuban companies and leaders. The list grew with the addition on Thursday of two Chinese electronics companies, CEIEC and Beijing H&C Technologies, accused by the United States of selling electronic defense equipment and security systems to the government.

“Cuba's ruling elite is monopolizing the island's energy resources and maritime transportation for its own enrichment, leaving the Cuban people facing power cuts, fuel shortages and a moribund economy. To maintain this system in place, the regime relies on a network of intermediaries abroad,” states American diplomacy in a press release.

Also sanctioned is Any Rodríguez Lastres, daughter of the president of the Gaesa conglomerate, Ania Guillermina Lastres Morera. Controlled by the military and founded in 1995 by Raul Castro, brother of Fidel, Gaesa is present in many strategic areas of the Cuban economy including real estate, the tourism, port and financial sectors. The consortium and its president were sanctioned earlier this year. At the same time, the American Department of Finance warned that it would sanction “any foreign person who operates or has operated” in Cuba in the electronics, technology, industrial and maritime sectors.