Cuba's Deputy Foreign Minister, Carlos Fernández de Cossío, expressed his disapproval on Thursday regarding the United States' sanction policies towards the island. He stated that Washington has escalated its economic pressure to an "unbelievable" level by trying to prevent individuals and companies from third-party countries from engaging in commercial relations with Cuba.
In a post on his X account, the deputy minister condemned the extraterritorial nature of the U.S. measures.
"The U.S. aggression against Cuba has reached an unbelievable point by forbidding citizens and businesspeople from any country from having certain commercial links with Cuba. The stance of the governments of these citizens and businesspeople does not matter. They are left unprotected under the coercive arm of the U.S.," he stated.
These remarks came just two days after Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed a new extension of the sanctions program against entities associated with the Cuban regime.
On June 23, Washington added several entities to its sanctions list, including Banco Financiero Internacional (BFI), RAFIN, Almacenes Universales (AUSA), GeoMinera, and Antillana de Acero. Additionally, Annalie Lilliam Rueda Cardero, the wife of Alejandro Castro Espín, son of Raúl Castro, was also included.
When announcing these measures, Rubio warned that any foreign bank or company maintaining commercial ties with the sanctioned entities might face restrictions on accessing the U.S. financial system, a point the Cuban government views as an extraterritorial application of the sanctions.
This new wave of restrictions aligns with the pressure strategy promoted by former President Donald Trump's administration, which since early 2026 has tightened economic measures against Cuban state and military enterprises.
Among the actions is Executive Order 14404, signed on May 1, which established a new sanctions program under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), targeting GAESA, the business conglomerate controlled by the Cuban Armed Forces, as well as other entities considered strategic for the regime's financing.
Fernández de Cossío has emerged as one of the most vocal figures from the Cuban government in responding to this strategy. In recent months, he has repeatedly accused Washington of using sanctions as a tool for political pressure and has blamed the U.S. for worsening the island's economic crisis.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration claims that the aim of these measures is to increase pressure on economic structures controlled by the Cuban regime and curtail the funding sources of its main state enterprises.
Understanding U.S. Sanctions and Cuba's Response
What are the recent U.S. sanctions against Cuba?
The recent U.S. sanctions against Cuba include adding several Cuban entities to the sanctions list, such as Banco Financiero Internacional (BFI) and Almacenes Universales (AUSA). These measures are part of a broader strategy to increase economic pressure on the Cuban regime.
How has Cuba responded to the U.S. sanctions?
Cuba, through figures like Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío, has criticized the U.S. sanctions, calling them an extraterritorial imposition that affects third-party countries' commercial relations with Cuba. The Cuban government blames these measures for exacerbating the island's economic crisis.
What is the purpose of the U.S. sanctions according to the Trump administration?
The Trump administration contends that the sanctions aim to exert pressure on the economic structures controlled by the Cuban regime, limiting the financial sources of its main state-owned enterprises.