Trump Imposes Sanctions on 11 Cuban Government Officials and 3 Security Agencies; Rubio Warns Additional Designations Coming

The Trump administration on May 19, 2026 announced new sanctions targeting 11 Cuban government officials and three Cuban security and intelligence agencies, including the National Revolutionary Police and intelligence directorate. Sanctioned individuals include the president of Cuba's National Assembly, ministers of communications, mines and energy, and justice, the minister of interior, the deputy minister of defense, three generals, the intelligence director, and the National Revolutionary Police chief. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that additional sanctions are coming 'in the following days and weeks,' signaling an escalating pressure campaign against President Miguel Díaz-Canel's government. Cuba condemned the action, accusing Washington of constructing a 'fraudulent case' for potential military action; Díaz-Canel asserted no Cuban officials hold assets under US jurisdiction. The sanctions represent a significant escalation of Trump's Cuba policy, which has included reimposing Cuba's State Sponsor of Terrorism designation, tightening remittances, and restricting travel. The action reflects heightened US concerns about Cuban security cooperation with Russia and Venezuela and comes amid broader Trump administration pressure on governments in the Western Hemisphere it characterizes as aligned with adversaries.