Republican Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar has expressed strong support for the newly announced sanctions by Secretary of State Marco Rubio against Cuba's military conglomerate GAESA, labeling them as a direct hit to the dictatorship's financial backbone.
"I commend @POTUS and @SecRubio for striking the Cuban dictatorship where it hurts the most," Salazar posted on X. "GAESA is the financial stronghold of the communist military elite. While the Cuban people endure blackouts, hunger, oppression, and misery, the regime's leaders live like millionaires. These sanctions strike at the dictatorship's financial heart and herald the beginning of the end."
In another statement in English, the Florida District 27 representative praised President Trump and Rubio for "directly targeting the corrupt financial network that sustains the Cuban dictatorship." She highlighted that for decades, the regime has used military enterprises like GAESA to enrich the communist elite "while ordinary Cubans suffered from blackouts, hunger, and despair."
Impact of the Sanctions
The sanctions, unveiled by Rubio on Thursday, were enacted under Executive Order 14404 signed by Trump on May 1, 2026. They specifically target GAESA, its CEO Ania Guillermina Lastres Morera—a brigadier general in the Revolutionary Armed Forces—and the mining company Moa Nickel S.A.
The State Department characterized GAESA as "the core of Cuba's kleptocratic communist system," noting it controls approximately 40% or more of the Cuban economy, with revenues "likely tripling the state's budget." According to Washington, as much as $20 billion in illicit assets may have been diverted to secret overseas bank accounts.
Immediate Economic Ramifications
The U.S. has given foreign companies until June 5 to cease operations with GAESA, under the threat of secondary sanctions. The effects were swift: Canadian firm Sherritt International halted all operations in Cuba on the same day, repatriated its expatriate employees, and witnessed the resignation of three directors. Its stock plummeted by up to 30%.
Sherritt's exit deprives the regime of 10-15% of its independent power generation capacity, worsening an energy crisis with blackouts lasting up to 25 hours a day, affecting more than 55% of Cuban territory.
Political Reactions and Future Implications
Salazar joins other Cuban-American lawmakers in applauding the measures. Mario Díaz-Balart deemed them "another significant step in holding the dictatorship accountable for decades of repression, corruption, and threats to national security."
Rubio cautioned that "additional designations can be expected in the coming days and weeks" and that measures will persist "until the regime enacts all necessary political and economic reforms."
Salazar had already hinted at the gravity of this moment in April, when she declared before Congress: "The communist regime in Cuba is on life support; Trump just needs to pull the plug."
Understanding the Sanctions on GAESA
What is GAESA and why is it significant?
GAESA, or Grupo de Administración Empresarial S.A., is a military-run conglomerate in Cuba that controls a large portion of the country's economy. It is significant because it serves as a major financial support for the Cuban regime, enriching the communist elite while the general population suffers.
What impact do the sanctions have on foreign companies operating in Cuba?
Foreign companies have been given a deadline to halt operations with GAESA or face secondary sanctions. The immediate impact has been the suspension of operations by companies like Sherritt International, which significantly affects Cuba's energy production and economic stability.
How do these sanctions affect the Cuban population?
The sanctions target the regime's financial resources, potentially weakening its grip on power. However, they may also exacerbate current hardships such as energy shortages, as seen with the exit of Sherritt International, which reduces the country's power generation capacity.