Teresa Amarelle Boué, the general secretary of the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC) and a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Cuba, has accused the United States of attempting to "intimidate the entire world" through the sanctions it has imposed on the Cuban government. Her remarks were disseminated via social media by the General Directorate of Health in Sancti Spíritus.
Amarelle's statements come amid a significant increase in pressure tactics from the Trump administration against Cuba's dictatorship. These measures include secondary sanctions that could impact companies and banks from third-party nations engaging in business with the island.
The immediate trigger was Executive Order 14404, signed by Trump on May 1st, titled "Imposition of Sanctions on the Individuals Responsible for Repression in Cuba and Threats to the National Security and Foreign Policy of the United States."
This order expands upon Executive Order 14380 from January 29, 2026, which declared a "national emergency" due to the actions of the Cuban regime and labeled Cuba as an "unusual and extraordinary threat" to the United States.
Impact of U.S. Sanctions on Cuba's Economy
Executive Order 14404 freezes the assets of Cuban officials and entities within U.S. territory, targeting sectors such as energy, defense, metals and mining, and financial services. It also extends these measures to adult relatives of designated individuals.
The most disruptive element is the secondary sanctions: any foreign financial institution facilitating transactions with sanctioned parties loses access to correspondent accounts on Wall Street. Practically, this forces global banks and businesses to choose between Cuba and the U.S. financial system.
On May 7th, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced specific designations, including the Business Administration Group S.A. (GAESA)—a military conglomerate controlling between 40% and 70% of Cuba's economy—its executive president Ania Guillermina Lastres Morera, and the mining company Moa Nickel S.A.
Foreign companies have until June 5th to cease operations with GAESA or face secondary sanctions.
Cuban Government's Response to Sanctions
Amarelle's argument about "intimidating the world" refers specifically to this mechanism: by penalizing any global entity engaging with sanctioned Cuban entities, Washington is leveraging its financial dominance to coerce others, not just Cuba.
This narrative aligns with the official rhetoric of the regime. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla described the measures as a "blockade squared" with unprecedented secondary sanctions. Meanwhile, President Miguel Díaz-Canel spoke of a "brutal genocidal blockade" and accused Trump of "moral poverty." The MINREX accused the U.S. of attempting to "ignite an explosion in Cuba" with these sanctions.
Previously, Amarelle had described the sanctions as a "sustained crime against the human rights of Cuban women" and "not a policy, but a systematic aggression against our rights," according to statements captured by Xinhua on April 8th.
The FMC had already coordinated national demonstrations on April 7th under the slogan "All Against the Blockade," with hundreds of women gathering in Havana's Mariana Grajales Park and municipalities across the country.
Since January 2026, the United States has enacted over 240 sanctions against the Cuban regime, which the island's government refers to as the 243rd action by Trump against Cuba. Within this context, Amarelle encapsulated the official stance with a phrase she has reiterated for months: "Presidents change, but the blockade remains."
Implications of U.S. Sanctions on Global Businesses
What are secondary sanctions?
Secondary sanctions are penalties that target foreign entities engaging in transactions with individuals or organizations already sanctioned by the United States, often forcing these entities to choose between doing business with the sanctioned country or accessing the U.S. financial system.
How do U.S. sanctions affect Cuba's economy?
U.S. sanctions impact Cuba's economy by targeting critical sectors such as energy, defense, and finance, as well as by freezing assets and imposing restrictions that deter international businesses from engaging with Cuban entities, thus isolating the island economically.