US Imposes New Sanctions on Cuba Amid Energy Shortage Concerns

US Imposes New Sanctions on Cuban Military-Controlled Conglomerate

The United States has imposed new sanctions on Grupo de Administracion Empresarial SA (GAESA), a conglomerate controlled by Cuba’s military, as part of its ongoing pressure campaign against the island nation. The sanctions were announced hours after UN experts criticized Washington’s effective fuel blockade of Cuba, describing it as “energy starvation”.

The measures also target Ania Guillermina Lastres Morera, the executive president of GAESA and Moa Nickel SA (MNSA), a joint venture between Sherritt International Corp and Cuba’s state-owned nickel company. In response to the sanctions, Sherritt has suspended its direct participation in joint venture activities in Cuba.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the sanctions demonstrate the Trump Administration’s commitment to addressing national security concerns in the hemisphere. The US government has been increasing pressure on Cuba’s communist government since the January 3 abduction of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

The Trump administration had previously imposed an executive order creating a path to sanction any country that delivers fuel to Cuba, effectively imposing a blockade. This move was seen as a significant escalation in Washington’s efforts to influence Cuba’s economic and political policies.

UN special rapporteurs have condemned the “unlawful blockade”, which they say is disrupting daily life and undermining human rights. The experts defined “energy starvation” as a condition where fuel scarcity cripples essential services required for a dignified life.

Source: Al Jazeera