WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has directed his top Cabinet officials to undertake a review of U.S. policy toward Cuba, focusing specifically on current sanctions. In a memo issued on Monday, Trump tasked his Cabinet with examining these sanctions and identifying methods to strengthen them within a 30-day timeframe.
The memo outlines that the review should prioritize Cuba's treatment of dissidents and evaluate financial transaction policies that, according to Trump, "disproportionately benefit the Cuban government, military, intelligence, or security agencies at the expense of the Cuban people." One notable proposed change involves shutting down all tourism to Cuba and restricting educational tours strictly to groups organized and run by American citizens.
This directive is consistent with Trump's previous statements expressing intentions to roll back the easing of Cuba-related sanctions that were enacted during the administrations of Democratic Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden. In his final days in office, Biden had made moves to lift the U.S. designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism.
The memo further endorses the continuation of the economic embargo against Cuba and opposes international calls for its termination. In response to Trump's memorandum, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez issued a swift condemnation, stating that it "strengthens the aggression & economic blockade that punishes the whole Cuban people." He labeled the U.S. actions as "criminal behavior" that violates the human rights of an entire nation.
Additionally, the Trump administration has categorized Cuba as one of seven countries subjected to heightened visitor restrictions. Furthermore, it has revoked temporary legal protections for approximately 300,000 Cubans, which had previously safeguarded them from deportation. Recent announcements from the administration also include visa restrictions targeting Cuban and foreign government officials associated with Cuba’s medical missions, which Secretary of State Marco Rubio has described as tantamount to "forced labor."
Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio has accused the United States of attempting to discredit these medical missions and criticized the reversal of policies that once welcomed Cubans to the United States. Rubio, who has been a long-time advocate for sanctions against Cuba, has personal roots in the island, as his family fled Cuba prior to the communist revolution that brought Fidel Castro to power.
In summary, Trump's recent memo signals a concerted effort to tighten sanctions against Cuba and reassert the U.S. stance regarding its policies toward the island nation, amidst ongoing debates surrounding human rights and international relations.
