Cuban activist and journalist Iliana Hernández has stated that international sanctions do not pose a genuine threat to the Cuban regime.
According to her, the only thing that could truly intimidate the government would be the certainty of a direct military intervention by the Trump administration.
In an interview with CiberCuba, Hernández was candid: "The Cuban communist dictatorship is a mafia, a criminal enterprise. You can impose 500 sanctions if you want."
Her comments came shortly after the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned the Ministry of Tourism and nine other entities of the regime on July 13, marking the fifth anniversary of the July 11 protests.
The Ineffectiveness of Sanctions
Hernández believes these measures do not affect the upper echelons of power. "They don't care about the sanctions. They don't care if people die, if the people live in blackouts. They will continue to live," she stated.
She argued that the regime has its own resources—mentioning a figure of $18 billion—and that no sanctions package, regardless of its scope, threatens their survival.
The Real Threat to the Cuban Government
In this context, Hernández was clear about what would indeed instill fear in Havana: "What would really trouble them is the certainty that Trump, or the administration, the Southern Command, or whoever, might enter Cuba the same way they did in '59, with violence."
The activist emphasized that the regime came to power by force and remains in power by force, and that this logic will not change through diplomatic or economic pressure. "They took over Cuba with violence, they maintain power with violence. They won't leave in any other way. They're going to leave with lead," she asserted.
Call for Intervention
Backing up her argument, she cited the words of Díaz-Canel, who in June closed the door to any political opening, ruling out changes in the system.
"All peaceful means to make them change have been exhausted. They won't change unless it's that way," Hernández concluded.
The activist also conveyed the sentiments of Cubans living on the island, who send her messages asking when intervention will arrive.
"When are they coming, when will Daddy Trump come, when will the fluffy one come... These are the messages I receive from Guantánamo to Pinar del Río," she recounted.
Hernández, who participated in the historic hunger strike of the San Isidro Movement in November 2020, faced detentions, house arrest, and acts of repudiation due to her political activism.
The government maintained her status as "regulated," preventing her from leaving Cuba until 2022, when she departed for Spain.
Since January 2025, the Trump administration has imposed over 240 sanctions against Cuba, including re-listing Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism and Executive Order 14404, signed on May 1, 2026, which expanded restrictions on foreign financial institutions dealing with blocked Cuban entities.
Understanding the Impact of Sanctions on Cuba
How do international sanctions affect the Cuban regime?
According to Iliana Hernández, international sanctions do not pose a genuine threat to the Cuban regime, as they have their own resources and are not significantly impacted by these measures.
What could truly intimidate the Cuban government?
Hernández suggests that the only thing that could truly intimidate the Cuban government is the certainty of a direct military intervention by the United States, similar to the events of 1959.
What is the stance of Díaz-Canel on political change in Cuba?
Díaz-Canel has closed the door to any political opening, ruling out changes in the Cuban system, according to statements cited by Hernández.