The United States Department of State announced on Thursday the imposition of sanctions on nine entities and two officials associated with the Cuban regime. This latest wave of measures focuses on the energy sector, the military conglomerate GAESA's evasion network, and the overseas medical missions program.
These actions are implemented under Executive Order 14404, signed by President Donald Trump on May 1, 2026, which allows for sanctions against individuals and entities involved in repression in Cuba and threats to U.S. national security.
Energy Sector Sanctions
In the energy domain, Washington has targeted the Petroleum Research Center S.A. (CEINPET), the research and development arm of the already sanctioned CUPET; Empresa de Energía S.A. (ENERSA), a gas and lubricant importer; and EINARBO S.A., which supplies the regime with these products from Mexico and India.
The sanction against CEINPET follows the designation of CUPET on June 11, effectively tightening the grip on the regime's entire fuel exploration, importation, and distribution chain.
GAESA's Corporate Evasion Tactics
Regarding sanction evasion, the State Department accused GAESA of utilizing corporate restructuring to safeguard its assets. Mariel Container Terminal S.A., through which approximately 85% of Cuban imports pass, was sanctioned for transferring the Port of Mariel to Coral Marítima S.A. in mid-June, an act Washington labeled as intentional evasion.
This transfer was detected after prior sanctions against GAESA on May 7 and Almacenes Universales S.A. on June 23. Coral Marítima, a subsidiary of the already sanctioned shipping group GEMAR on July 13, was also designated on Thursday.
Other entities connected to evasion include CEIBA Investments Limited, a Guernsey-based firm operating in Cuban real estate, whose Panamanian subsidiary took control of a former GAESA joint venture, and ORBIT S.A., a remittance processor described by the State Department as "almost certainly" controlled by GAESA.
International Medical Mission Program
The third focus of the sanctions is the international medical missions program. The Cuban Medical Services Marketer S.A. (CSMC) is designated as "the primary source of foreign currency for the Cuban regime, generating more revenue than any other economic sector," alongside the Central Unit for Medical Cooperation (UCCM), responsible for recruiting professionals for overseas missions.
Individually, Health Minister José Ángel Portal Miranda and UCCM director Gretza Sánchez Padrón were sanctioned. The State Department reiterated that the regime retains between 50% and 95% of salaries paid by host countries, impacting tens of thousands of Cuban doctors across more than 50 nations.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio cautioned that any foreign bank or company providing services to those sanctioned must cease activities immediately: "Anyone who supports, sponsors, or provides services to these sanctioned actors risks being sanctioned themselves."
This marks the fourth significant round of designations against Cuba in less than three months, following actions on May 7, June 11, and July 13, when the U.S. sanctioned ten other entities, including the Ministry of Tourism, Rapid Response Brigades, and Territorial Militia Troops.
Understanding U.S. Sanctions on Cuban Enterprises
What entities were targeted by the U.S. sanctions?
The sanctions targeted nine entities, including CEINPET, ENERSA, EINARBO S.A., Mariel Container Terminal S.A., CEIBA Investments Limited, and ORBIT S.A., among others.
Why were these sanctions imposed?
The sanctions aim to address issues like repression in Cuba, threats to U.S. national security, and the Cuban regime's economic activities supporting these actions.
How does the international medical missions program relate to the sanctions?
The program was targeted because it is seen as a major revenue source for the Cuban regime, with accusations of unfair salary retention impacting Cuban medical professionals abroad.