On Thursday, the U.S. Department of State sanctioned Any Rodríguez Lastres under Executive Order 14404. This action was taken due to her being the daughter of Ania Guillermina Lastres Morera, the executive president of GAESA, a powerful military-business conglomerate of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces.
The sanctions are justified under a provision allowing the designation of adult family members of individuals already sanctioned. The Department of State also highlighted that Any Rodríguez Lastres previously served as the commercial director of the Terminal de Contenedores de Mariel S.A., which is also on the U.S. sanctions list.
Professional Journey of Any Rodríguez Lastres
Beginning her career in 2014 as a commercial specialist at the Mariel Terminal, Rodríguez Lastres was involved in budgeting, cargo containerization, and billing before advancing to commercial strategy roles. She later relocated to Panama, where she worked with international port and logistics companies, with ties to travel in countries like Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Germany, and Singapore.
GAESA's Influence and U.S. Response
The Department of State criticized GAESA's sphere of influence, stating, "The regime's inner circle and their families continue to profit from the dictatorship's grip on the island's economy through opaque networks linked to GAESA."
This sanction marks the third direct action against the immediate family of Ania Lastres Morera, and the first affecting her direct descendants. Back in May 2026, Washington had sanctioned Ania Lastres Morera along with the conglomerate and Moa Nickel S.A. Shortly after, the U.S. revoked the permanent residency of her sister, Adys Lastres Morera, who was living in Miami and managing real estate businesses in Florida.
Broader Sanction Measures
The latest action was extensive, involving the designation of eight entities and two individuals, alongside the identification of five vessels as blocked property. Among these entities are companies linked to petroleum networks that supply the Cuban regime, two Cuban state entities—CUBAELECTRÓNICA and TECNOSIME—and two Chinese corporations that provided military components to the Cuban Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces: China National Electronic Import and Export Company (CEIEC) and Beijing H&C Technologies Co., Ltd., both operating through the Cuban company Duna S.A.
The Department of State also warned about GAESA's resource management: "Cuba's ruling elite hoards the island's energy and maritime resources for their own gain, leaving the Cuban people to face power outages, fuel shortages, and a stagnant economy."
OFAC's Expanded Sanction Authorization
Simultaneously, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued a directive expanding sanction authorization to any foreign person operating in Cuba's manufacturing, technology, electronics, and maritime sectors. This move follows revelations that GAESA might be using Cuban small and medium-sized enterprises as fronts to evade sanctions and access the international financial system.
The Department of State emphasized that the expansion of sanctionable sectors "targets the regime and its enablers, not the Cuban people," reiterating that the U.S. continues to permit humanitarian exports of food, medicine, and medical devices to the island.
Understanding U.S. Sanctions on GAESA and Its Affiliates
Why was Any Rodríguez Lastres sanctioned by the U.S.?
Any Rodríguez Lastres was sanctioned due to her familial ties to Ania Guillermina Lastres Morera, the president of GAESA, under an executive order allowing the designation of adult family members of already sanctioned individuals.
What is the role of GAESA in Cuba's economy?
GAESA is a military-business conglomerate that exerts significant control over Cuba's economy, managing a wide array of sectors including tourism, real estate, and retail, often criticized for its opaque business practices.
What entities were included in the recent U.S. sanctions?
The recent sanctions included eight entities, two individuals, and designated five vessels as blocked property. It targeted companies linked to petroleum networks supplying the Cuban regime and two Chinese corporations supplying military components to Cuba.
How does the U.S. differentiate its sanctions from humanitarian aid to Cuba?
The U.S. sanctions aim at the Cuban regime and its facilitators, while still allowing the export of humanitarian goods such as food, medicine, and medical devices to the Cuban people.