U.S. Imposes New Sanctions on Cuban President and Castro Family Members

The United States has imposed new economic sanctions on Cuba’s President Miguel Diaz-Canel, his wife, and his stepson, as well as on members of the Castro family, in the latest escalation of Washington’s pressure campaign against the communist-led island. Among those targeted were the son and a grandson of former president Raúl Castro, who no longer holds an official post but remains an influential figure in Cuba’s political future.

The Treasury Department announced the sanctions on Thursday, expanding restrictions beyond individuals to include key state institutions and organizations. Those now affected include Cuba’s ministry of the revolutionary armed forces, the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples, Amistur Cuba, and the committees for the defense of the revolution. The move is part of a broader US effort to tighten financial and diplomatic pressure on Havana.

The United States has maintained an embargo on Cuba for decades, but President Donald Trump has sharply intensified that policy in recent months. His administration has also openly discussed the possibility of taking control of the island. The latest sanctions come as Cuba faces a worsening economic and energy crisis, with a de facto fuel blockade contributing to shortages and further straining the country’s fragile economy.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on X that Washington was targeting the network that “enables and funds” what he described as Cuba’s “subversive and radical operations.” He said the United States would no longer tolerate what he called “radical Marxist regimes” exporting their “revolution” to the US and other countries. Rubio also warned that anyone providing services to the sanctioned entities could face sanctions themselves, and said foreign banks and companies should freeze related activity.

The new measures follow visa restrictions imposed in 2025 on the Cuban president and other senior officials, reflecting a continued tightening of US policy toward Havana. Trump has repeatedly suggested that Cuba could be next, after Venezuela, to come under heavy US pressure.

The sanctions are likely to further strain relations between Washington and Havana at a time when Cuba is already grappling with fuel shortages, economic instability, and a deepening crisis in essential services. With the latest designations, the Trump administration is signaling that it intends to keep increasing pressure on Cuba’s leadership and on the institutions that support it.