The United States Department of the Treasury announced new sanctions this Thursday targeting the state oil company of Cuba, as part of the Trump administration's strategy of pressure on the island's authorities and the tightening of the blockade against the Caribbean country.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), dependent on the U.S. Treasury, has added the company Unión Cuba Petróleo, "alias 'CUPET'", to its list of sanctioned entities, without offering additional information at this time on the specific scope of the measure.
In parallel, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on social media that he has applied the same decision against "the Cuban state energy company," justifying that "Cuba's communist elites have weaponized energy to exert social control and gain kleptocratic benefits."
"For decades, the regime has stolen and hoarded available fuel, using it for the Castros' private jet, for the security forces that repress the Cuban people, to keep empty tourist hotels lit, and to transport people to fake protests and political spectacles; all while the Cuban people have suffered blackouts and waited weeks to refuel their cars," Rubio stated, detailing his accusations against the Cuban government.
The U.S. official added that Washington will continue "acting against the communist regime's ability to leverage its energy trade to advance its corrupt agenda and violently repress the Cuban people," making it clear that the pressure will not be limited to this round of sanctions.
In recent dates, the Trump administration had already imposed sanctions on the President of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, as well as four other individuals, including his predecessor, Raúl Castro. In addition, the Department of the Treasury took measures against five Cuban entities, including the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces.
Since the beginning of the year, the United States has intensified its actions against the island through a 'de facto' blockade on fuel supply. The Cuban president himself has described this policy as "collective punishment," which in his opinion constitutes an "act of genocide."