Why the US just sanctioned Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel and the Castro family
Cuba’s President Miguel Diaz-Canel, second left, and Raul Castro’s grandson Raul Guillermo Rodriguez Castro, center back, take part in a rally in support of former President Raul Castro in front of the US Embassy in Havana, Cuba. (Photo: AP)The US on Thursday imposed sanctions on Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel and some affiliated people and entities, the US Treasury Department’s website showed.
The sanctions also targeted four other people and five entities, including Diaz-Canel’s wife, Lis Cuesta Peraza, two members of the Castro family, and the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces.
The Cuban government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the sanctions.
Diaz-Canel, 66, has served as president of the Caribbean country since taking over from Raul Castro, the brother of Cuba’s former leader Fidel Castro, in 2018.
President Donald Trump told reporters the US wants Cuba “to be a nicely run country.” Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez condemned the sanctions as “despicable” and the latest example of US interventionism, saying “every US action aimed at creating a scenario of conflict between the two countries is doomed to failure.” Havana did not immediately issue an official response.
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The action follows last month’s sanctions on 11 Cuban officials including the communications minister and several military leaders, and charges against Raúl Castro over the 1996 downing of planes operated by Cuban exiles.