The U.S. Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on Monday against the Antillean Export Corporation S.A. (ANTEX), a key operational arm of the military conglomerate GAESA in Angola. This move is part of a broader strategy that tightens the economic noose around the Cuban regime by targeting nine additional entities.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) placed ANTEX on the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list, highlighting its direct connections to the Business Administration Group S.A. Founded on January 1, 1998, and identified with entity code 60245, the corporation is also recognized under various names, including Antex Exporting Corporation S.A., Antex S.A., Antillean Exporter PLC, Corporación Antex S.A., and Corporación Comercial Antex S.A.
ANTEX functions as the conduit through which GAESA manages Cuban medical missions in Angola. It handles the hiring of professionals, manages visas and flights, and oversees the accounts where revenues from these services are deposited. Between 2013 and 2017, GAESA reportedly received over $1 billion from Angola through this corporation for healthcare and construction services.
Controversy Over Withheld Salaries
In August 2025, more than 2,000 Cuban doctors stationed in Angola claimed that ANTEX withheld accumulated salaries ranging from $20,000 to $22,000, prompting them to prepare a legal case against the corporation.
Alongside ANTEX, OFAC designated eight other Cuban entities under Executive Order 14404, signed by President Donald Trump on May 1, 2026.
Additional Sanctions and Their Impact
The sanctioned companies include COREYDAN S.A. and ENETEC S.A., both in the fuel sector; the Maritime-Port Transport Business Group (GEMAR), comprising 32 companies; and the Foreign Trade Business Group (GECOMEX), which handles over 20% of Cuba's imports, including firms like Alimport, Cubaexport, and Quimimport.
Also affected is the state insurance and financial services group Superior Business Management Organization CAUDAL S.A., along with the Cuban Ministry of Tourism (MINTUR). This marks the first direct sanction aimed at the tourism authority, a critical source of foreign currency for the regime.
The list further targets three internal repression organizations: the Rapid Response Brigades, civilian groups trained to disperse protests since June 1991; the Association of Combatants of the Cuban Revolution (ACRC), with over 337,000 retired members from the Armed Forces and the MININT; and the Territorial Troop Militias (MTT), a civil-military force established in January 1980.
Washington's Coordinated Pressure
This marks the fourth wave of sanctions in under three months. Previous rounds included the direct designation of GAESA and its executive president on May 7, the formal blocking of GAESA, MININT, and MINFAR along with Díaz-Canel and his inner circle on June 4, and new entities linked to GAESA on June 23.
The State Department simultaneously issued a statement titled "New Sanctions on the Cuban Regime's Financial Sources and Instruments of Oppression," underscoring the coordinated effort by Washington to pressure Havana.
The sanctions on MINTUR come at a time when international tourism in Cuba had already plunged by 48% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period the previous year, partly due to the lasting impact of earlier designations on the hotel sector and foreign companies operating on the island.
Frequently Asked Questions About U.S. Sanctions on Cuba
What is ANTEX and why is it significant?
ANTEX is the Antillean Export Corporation S.A., a crucial operational arm of GAESA in Angola, managing Cuban medical missions and financial transactions. Its significance lies in its role as a financial conduit for GAESA's operations.
How have U.S. sanctions impacted Cuban tourism?
U.S. sanctions have significantly affected Cuban tourism by targeting MINTUR, the island's main tourism authority. This has contributed to a 48% drop in international tourism in early 2026 compared to the previous year.
Which other entities have been sanctioned alongside ANTEX?
Along with ANTEX, eight other Cuban entities have been sanctioned, including COREYDAN S.A., ENETEC S.A., GEMAR, GECOMEX, CAUDAL S.A., and the Cuban Ministry of Tourism.