Description: The US has expanded its sanctions portfolio on the Cuban government, imposing additional sanctions on individuals working or supporting the country’s energy, defense, metals and mining, financial services or security services institutions. President Trump signed the executive order which also highlights that secondary sanctions could be imposed to individuals or entities supporting or executing transactions with the individuals initially targeted. Cuba’s president, Miguel Diaz – Canel denounced the sanctions as economic coercion and accused the US of reinforcing a brutal and genocidal blockade on the island’s economy. President Trump has insisted that Cuba was next, indicating an operation after the end of the Iranian war, additionally threatening military action.
Impact: Cuba’s continued economic blockade would likely compromise the government’s negotiating position despite currently withholding the economic consequences and the lack of public uprising. The US seems resolute in advancing the sanctions adding threats of military operations in order to pressure the country’s government to renounce its state – run economy and abandon the communist model of governance. The sanctions and further economic pressure are currently unlikely to deter the Cuban government from its position despite the devastating economic conditions in the country followed by regular electricity and fuel shortages. With the Senate’s powers exclusively constrained by Trump’s unilateral decision – making, military action is not outside of the scope of intervention although currently its unlikely.