The U.S. Treasury Department has broadened its sanctions against the Cuban regime, adding ten entities to the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List under the CUBA-EO14404 program. This expansion, announced on Monday, targets a range of entities from repressive agencies to key state ministries and enterprises.
This move, carried out by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), coincided with a State Department statement titled "Further Sanctions on the Cuban Regime's Sources of Funding and Tools of Oppression."
Among those sanctioned are the Rapid Response Brigades (BRR) and the Territorial Troop Militias (MTT), both with established histories of repression. The BRR, established in June 1991, played a significant role in violently suppressing the July 11, 2021 protests, where its members attacked demonstrators across the country. The MTT has been active since January 1980.
The Association of Combatants of the Cuban Revolution (ACRC), founded in December 1993, was also sanctioned. Although labeled by OFAC as a civil society organization, human rights groups identify it as involved in acts of repudiation, threats, and physical aggression against activists and dissidents.
Economically, the sanctions list includes the Ministry of Tourism of Cuba (MINTUR), the Maritime-Port Transport Business Group (GEMAR), and the Foreign Trade Business Group (GECOMEX), as well as the Higher Business Management Organization Caudal S.A. (OSDE Caudal). The sanctions against MINTUR come at a challenging time for Cuban tourism, which saw a 48% drop in international visitors in the first quarter of 2026, with just 298,057 arrivals.
Additionally, Antillean Export Corporation S.A. (ANTEX), directly linked to the military conglomerate GAESA as per the SDN list, and two fuel sector companies, COREYDAN S.A. and ENETEC S.A., were also designated.
ANTEX's inclusion further tightens the net around GAESA, which was sanctioned on May 7 alongside its president Ania Lastres Morera. This round of sanctions is part of a persistent campaign that began with the signing of Executive Order 14404 by Trump on May 1, 2026, expanding the legal framework to include sectors like energy, defense, mining, and finance, and establishing secondary sanctions.
Since then, the sanctions have been progressively implemented: on May 18, the DGI, MININT, and PNR were sanctioned; on June 4, the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution and ICAP followed; and on June 11, CUPET was targeted.
In total, the Trump administration has imposed more than 240 restrictive measures against the Cuban regime since January 2026. The State Department had previously warned in May that "more sanctions are expected in the coming days and weeks," a promise that was realized with Monday's largest round of designations since the campaign began.
Understanding the U.S. Sanctions on Cuba
What are the new entities added to the U.S. sanctions list?
The new entities include the Rapid Response Brigades, Territorial Troop Militias, and the Association of Combatants of the Cuban Revolution, among others involved in repression and economic activities.
Why was the Ministry of Tourism of Cuba sanctioned?
The Ministry of Tourism was sanctioned as part of efforts to target key state enterprises, especially as the sector struggles with a significant decline in international visitors.
How does this round of sanctions fit into the broader U.S. strategy?
This round is part of a sustained offensive that began with Executive Order 14404, aimed at expanding the sanctions framework to include various critical sectors.