The United States government has enacted sanctions against Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel and a group of associated individuals and organisations, according to updates on US Treasury Department’s website on Thursday.
The restrictive measures also target four additional individuals and five entities. Included in the sanctions are president’s wife, Lis Cuesta Peraza, two members of Castro family, and Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, reports BBC.
The 66-year-old Diaz-Canel has led the Caribbean nation since 2018, when he took over the presidency from Raul Castro, the brother of the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro.
There was no immediate official response from the Cuban government regarding the new sanctions. However, Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez used social media to label the move “despicable” and a further example of US interventionism.
“Every US action aimed at creating a scenario of conflict between the two countries is doomed to failure,” Rodriguez stated.
This latest action by Washington serves as the most recent attempt to increase pressure on the island’s communist leadership. Commenting on the situation, President Donald Trump told reporters that United States wants Cuba “to be a nicely run country”.
The announcement follows sanctions imposed by the US government last month on 11 Cuban officials, which included the communications minister, several military commanders, and the country’s primary intelligence agency.
US has charged Raul Castro with murder over his alleged role in a 1996 incident where Cuban jets shot down aircraft operated by a group of Cuban exiles.
