Trump signed an executive order expanding U.S. sanctions tied to Cuba’s security, corruption and human rights abuses, with secondary sanctions authorized.
A new U.S. sanctions push aimed at Cuba’s government is set to move from policy talk into enforcement, after President Donald Trump signed an executive order broadening restrictions.
According to Misryoum, the order expands sanctions against people, entities, and affiliates tied to Cuba’s security apparatus, and those described as complicit in corruption or serious human rights violations. It also covers agents, officials, or supporters of the Cuban government.
The administration says the measure can reach further than primary targets. Misryoum reports that the executive order authorizes secondary sanctions for those conducting or facilitating transactions with parties included under the order.
This matters because secondary sanctions can quickly widen the circle of who feels the impact, turning political pressure into a broader commercial risk.
Misryoum also notes that it was not immediately clear who would be directly hit first under the new order, even as the executive action was described as part of a broader tightening strategy.
The move comes as the Trump administration continues to escalate its stance toward Cuba.. Misryoum reports that Trump has repeatedly portrayed the island as being on the verge of collapse, and has suggested publicly that additional steps may follow, though he did not spell out what those steps would be.
In this context, the order is framed as both punishment and warning. Misryoum says the document includes an implicit message to Havana, pointing to Cuba’s alignment with Iran and militant groups such as Hezbollah.
Misryoum adds that one justification cited in the order links Cuba’s proximity to the United States with concerns about hostile intelligence, military, and terrorist activity.
Ultimately, Misryoum notes that the sanctions are positioned as part of a wider pressure campaign, and how far they spread may depend on how broadly financial and trade channels interpret “facilitation” under secondary sanctions.