Washington imposes sanctions on the grandson of Cuba's former president and five Cuban entities, including a bank

Washington, Sept 3 (KUNA) -- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the imposition of sanctions on the grandson of former Cuban President Raúl Castro and five entities, including Cuba’s Banco Exterior, a bank specializing in financing foreign trade, managing foreign exchange reserves, and providing international banking services to companies and institutions operating in global markets.

In a statement on Thursday, Rubio said the new sanctions imposed by the U.S. Department of State on Fidel Ernesto Castro Callés and the aforementioned bank, along with four other entities, target those who “exploit Cuba’s natural resources or energy reserves for the benefit of the regime.” The measures were implemented in accordance with Executive Order 14404, issued by U.S. President Donald Trump, which imposes sanctions on individuals responsible for repression in Cuba and for threats to U.S. national security and foreign policy.

Rubio added that the activities of Castro and the designated entities “support the regime’s financial services, metals, mining, and energy sectors,” and noted that they “are part of networks that bolster the regime’s threats to U.S. national security.”

He emphasized that the new designations reflect “President Trump’s steadfast vision of a free Cuba, in which the regime’s illicit financial networks, repressive apparatus, and entrenched power structures dating back to the Castro era are dismantled, and the Cuban people inherit the country’s future.” (End) R.S.R. / M.A.A.