The Secretary of State of the United States, Marco Rubio, announced new international sanctions against Grupo de Administración Empresarial S.A. (GAESA), considered the main economic and financial structure of the Cuban dictatorship and one of the central pillars of the regime's power on the island.
The measure represents one of Washington's strongest recent moves against the Cuban economic apparatus and directly targets the business networks that support the Havana regime.
Among those sanctioned is Ania Guillermina Lastres Morera, identified as one of the main business operators linked to GAESA and a key figure in the regime's financial structure. According to the US announcement, the restrictions seek to limit the ability of these organizations to operate internationally and access financial resources.
Cuban dictator Miguel Díaz-Canel
In addition, the United States included sanctions against Moa Nickel S.A., one of the most important companies in the mining and metals sector in Cuba. The company participates in the exploitation and commercialization of nickel, one of the most important strategic resources for the Cuban economy. Washington maintains that these types of companies function as direct funding mechanisms for the state and military apparatus.
GAESA has been considered the island's true center of economic power for years. The conglomerate controls strategic sectors such as tourism, foreign trade, ports, transportation, infrastructure and a large part of the operations related to foreign exchange and remittances. Various international reports maintain that the group maintains a direct relationship with the Revolutionary Armed Forces and concentrates a significant portion of the Cuban economy under
military administration.
Washington's decision comes in a context of increasing pressure on the Cuban regime, marked by internal demonstrations, energy crisis, food shortages and a sustained deterioration of economic and social conditions.
GAESA headquarters in Cuba
From Marco Rubio's environment, the measure was presented as an attempt to hit directly at the sources of financing the dictatorship, differentiating between the Cuban people and the business structures
controlled by the regime.
The new sanctions could further complicate the ability of these companies to operate with international partners, access financing or participate in businesses related to global trade.
In this context, Washington's offensive marks a new chapter in the relationship between the United States and Cuba, with the U.S. administration directly targeting the economic framework that supports Cuban power.
