Rubio sanctions Cuba's military-controlled GAESA conglomerate

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday imposed sanctions on additional entities tied to Cuba's military-controlled holding company Grupo de Administracion Empresarial S.A (GAESA), accusing the conglomerate of diverting state resources toward repression and anti-American subversion. In a post on social media platform X, Rubio stated that the situation in Cuba is deteriorating due to the island's "corrupt" regime, which he said prioritizes its "own total control" over the wellbeing of the Cuban people.

Allegations of resource diversion

"The Cuban military-controlled conglomerate GAESA has persistently served as the main vector for regime elites to steal the island's few resources, diverting them for repression, anti-American subversion and spying instead of schools, power plants, and basic necessities for the Cuban people," Rubio said. He noted that the new designations target network entities responsible for moving both the conglomerate's money and physical assets, as well as firms exploiting Cuba's mineral and metal reserves for what he called "ill-gotten profit."

Warning to international banks

Rubio said that anyone "providing services to these sanctioned actors is at risk of being sanctioned themselves," urging foreign banks and companies to "freeze those activities immediately." Washington has previously targeted GAESA subsidiaries as part of broader efforts to cut off revenue streams to Havana's security apparatus.