"The Cuban regime poses a national security threat by supporting hostile actors, terrorism, and regional instability."
President Donald J. Trump has signed an Executive Order imposing new sanctions on the Cuban regime. The Order broadens existing sanctions under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to include new restrictions on entities, persons, or affiliates that support the Cuban regime's security apparatus, are complicit in government corruption or serious human rights violations, or are agents, officials, or material supporters of the Cuban government.
The Order also authorizes sanctions on persons, entities, or financial institutions that have conducted or facilitated transactions with sanctioned persons or entities.
Justification for the Sanctions
The Executive Order details the administration's rationale for the expanded measures. It alleges that the Cuban regime:
- Hosts foreign adversary facilities that target U.S. national security information
- Maintains close ties to Iran and other state sponsors of terrorism
- Provides safe haven for Hezbollah
- Persecutes political opponents and spreads communist ideology
- Drives migration towards the United States
The Order asserts that these actions constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to U.S. national security and foreign policy, therefore warranting the new sanctions under emergency economic powers.