The U.S. Department of State unveiled a new wave of sanctions against Cuba on Thursday, naming Fidel Ernesto Castro Calis, the grandson of Raúl Castro, along with the Banco Exterior de Cuba and four other entities linked to the regime's natural resources and energy sectors, according to the official statement from the State Department.
These actions fall under Executive Order 14404, which was signed by President Trump on May 1, 2026. This order allows for extensive sanctions against individuals and organizations that support the Cuban regime's oppressive apparatus or operate within strategic sectors such as energy, mining, defense, and financial services.
The State Department justified the designations by stating, "The Castro family and their accomplices in the repressive Ministry of the Interior continue to maintain their total control over the island's economy, hoarding resources for the benefit of a small group of regime elites, while the Cuban people suffer."
The sanctions effectively freeze all assets of the designated parties under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibit any transactions with them by American citizens and businesses.
Executive Order 14404 also authorizes secondary sanctions against foreign financial institutions that engage with the sanctioned individuals and entities.
With these sanctions, Fidel Ernesto Castro Calis becomes the latest member of the Castro family to be targeted. Back in June, Washington had already placed sanctions on Alejandro Castro Espín, Raúl's son, nicknamed "El Tuerto," along with his wife Annalie Lilliam Rueda Cardero and their son Raúl Alejandro Castro Calis.
In that same round, President Miguel Díaz-Canel, his wife Lis Cuesta Peraza, and his stepson Manuel Anido Cuesta were also designated.
This pressure campaign has resulted in over 240 sanctions against Cuba since January 2026, targeting high-level intelligence officials, the Rapid Response Brigades, the Territorial Troops Militias, the Business Management Group S.A. (GAESA), mining companies like Geominsal, the Comandante Ernesto Che Guevara Nickel Company, and military industry entities.
The State Department emphasized that these new designations align with President Trump's vision of "a free Cuba, where the regime's illicit financial networks, oppressive apparatuses, and Castro-era power structures are dismantled, and where the Cuban people, not their oppressors, inherit the nation's future."
One notable observation among analysts is the deliberate omission of Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, known as "El Cangrejo" and also a grandson of Raúl Castro, from all sanction lists to date.
Reports on the regime's leadership suggest that Washington may be intentionally keeping him off the lists as a potential informal communication channel with Havana.
Frequently Asked Questions about U.S. Sanctions on Cuba
What is the significance of Executive Order 14404?
Executive Order 14404, signed by President Trump, authorizes broad sanctions against individuals and entities that support the Cuban regime's oppressive mechanisms or operate in strategic sectors like energy, mining, defense, and financial services.
Who are the latest individuals targeted by U.S. sanctions?
The latest sanctions target Fidel Ernesto Castro Calis, the grandson of Raúl Castro, along with several entities linked to the Cuban regime's natural resources and energy sectors.
Why is Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro not included in the sanctions?
Analysts suggest that Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro is deliberately kept off the sanction lists as a possible informal communication channel between Washington and Havana.