Trump imposes sweeping Cuba sanctions with secondary enforcement powers and threatens military action

President Trump signed an executive order on May 1, 2026, establishing expansive new sanctions authorities against Cuba, including unprecedented powers to impose 'secondary sanctions' on non-US foreign actors doing business with Cuba. The sanctions target Cuban officials and entities in energy, defense, mining, and financial sectors under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Trump simultaneously escalated military threats, declaring Cuba a national security threat, stationing naval warships off Cuban shores, and stating he will 'take control of Cuba almost immediately' after concluding operations in Iran. Secretary of State Marco Rubio justified the actions by labeling Cuba 'one of the leading sponsors of terrorism in the entire region,' though former State Department officials dispute Cuba merits this designation. Congressional Democrats, including Senate Foreign Relations Committee members, pushed back against both the military threats and fuel blockade. Cuba's deputy ...

"I will take control of Cuba almost immediately after the conflict with Iran is over." — Statement made by President Trump during White House remarks announcing the Cuba sanctions executive order and military posture changes on May 1, 2026.