The sanctions target the leadership of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP) and nine Cuban organizations, including the country’s Ministry of Construction, for supporting the island’s government, Reuters said.
Rubio said the measures were aimed at ICAP for allegedly financing a “a vast subversive network” in the United States operating under the cover of educational or cultural exchange. Rubio claimed Cuba had tried in recent days to use Fidel Castro’s 100th birthday to activate that network, recruiting supporters to Havana to make contact with Cuban government officials.
“Today's designations make
The situation in Cuba has been deteriorating since January,
when shipments of Venezuelan oil to the island ceased after the United States
assisted a coup that removed Nicolas Maduro from power. Now ruled by Maduro’s
deputy, Caracas aligned itself with Washington and cut off Cuba’s energy supply.