Washington Admits It: New Memorandum Reaffirms the Blockade on Cuba

On the afternoon of June 30, the latest absurd move by the Trump administration against the Cuban people was revealed: the Presidential National Security Memorandum NSP/N-5.

From the first reading, what stands out is the explicit acknowledgment, in the very handwriting of the U.S. president, that yes, they do have—and are now trying to deepen—an economic blockade against Cuba.

This is stated verbatim in Section 2 on Policy, subsection c: Support the economic embargo against Cuba described in section 4(7) of the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996 (the embargo), including opposing measures that call for the end of the embargo in the United Nations and other international forums... etc., etc. In other words, this reiterates or updates what was already established by the Helms-Burton Act, and once again targets any international initiatives that seek to simply condemn this aggression against the Cuban people.

It’s worth asking how many gallons of ink and digital texts have been spent denying the existence of this so-called embargo, as Trump himself refers to it in his memo—all in vain. How many voices have risen to highlight the so-called good intentions of U.S. authorities toward the Cuban people? This Memorandum has wiped them all away in a single stroke. Ironically, those same U.S. authorities have been the ones funding those publications and denialist voices.

Now Trump, who appears to be in full confession mode, has once again made things clear—without half-truths or manipulations—for anyone who still had doubts about the traditional, criminal, illegal, and genocidal policy pursued by successive administrations of the turbulent and brutal empire to the north, which holds nothing but contempt for us.

The NSP/N-5 memo is, in essence, a reiteration of old measures, with an emphasis on sanctions against specific Cuban companies, which have been arbitrarily classified as targets, such as GAESA. The memo accuses them of alleged abusive practices against the Cuban people, distorting the vital role they play in an economy subjected to prolonged economic warfare.

It also reminds the American people that they are not allowed to visit Cuba as tourists, except under strict licensing requirements, now accompanied by twisted control and auditing measures. Clearly, Trump fears, as his predecessors did, the danger of Americans discovering for themselves what life is really like in Cuba and getting to know the Cuban people.

Disrupting tourism is one of the most common tactics used against Cuba, not only for the reasons mentioned above, but because it is an immediate source of revenue for the country. Its dynamism has a ripple effect across the economy and fosters empathy between peoples. This is why it ties into another measure: Cuba’s inclusion on the baseless list of State Sponsors of Terrorism, which also seeks to hinder travel from third countries.

A particularly concerning aspect of the NSP/N-5 memo is the renewed and blatant attempt to establish a sort of preferential treatment for what is referred to as Cuba’s private sector. We saw this before, during the Biden administration: the idea of encouraging a social sector opposed to the Revolution, ignoring the fact that the economic aggression is multidimensional and impacts the entire Cuban population, regardless of their role in society.

The explicit reference to the Helms-Burton Act from the very beginning also reveals the colonialist, interventionist, and imperial nature of the NSP/N-5 memo. As is well known, this infamous Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996, its official name, outlines the imposition of a transitional government led by a U.S. appointee—essentially, the annulment of Cuba’s independence and sovereignty.

This part of the memo, although present throughout the entire document, makes evident the heavy influence of the outdated Cuban-American mafia. It’s not just a matter of speculation—Mr. Rubio, the habitual liar, probably wrote it himself. The memo echoes at least part of the aspirations of that ruthless group regarding Cuba’s future.

And it’s only a partial reflection because there's ample evidence that the vision of this mafia includes zero ties, zero engagement with Cuba. They envision a scorched-earth approach, unwilling even to tolerate a successful non-state sector in Cuba, which they view as a threat to their dream of reclaiming the properties, privileges, and power once held by the pre-1959 oligarchy—the same class that gave rise to Batista and has, generation after generation, waged war on the Cuban Revolution.

This time, Trump is recycling a memorandum with identical language and similar measures from his first term, specifically the “Presidential National Security Memorandum on Strengthening the Policy of the United States Toward Cuba,” issued on June 16, 2017.

The June 30 memorandum is released amid genuine chaos fueled by the monarch-like impulses of the U.S. president, both at home and abroad. From his alternate reality, he dares to speak of democracy while dismantling what little remains of it in his own country.

No one should be misled by the memo’s occasionally ambiguous or incoherent language, with its recurring claim that all of this is done to help the Cuban people, out of concern for human rights and similar justifications.

This measure is yet another absurd action from an administration with a record of generating enemies by the minute on the international stage, defying the global shifts that are occurring for the betterment of humanity—such as the rise of the BRICS, where Cuba actively participates, to name just one example that provides context for this new aggression against the rebellious Island.

Undoubtedly, the NSP/N-5 memo has the potential to create new complications for the Cuban economy. However, we’ll have to see how it is implemented in practice. Measures like auditing every trip to Cuba sound surreal. Let’s not forget the complaints from the Treasury Department in 2024, which had its staff and budget slashed and admitted it lacked the resources to manage sanctions on more than 60 countries.

Nonetheless, the language used in the document relies heavily on threats to exert pressure. What makes it worse compared to the 2017 version is the fact that the person tasked with enforcing and overseeing it is, unfortunately, the worst possible choice: Mr. Rubio.

One detail that raises suspicion about this memo is the timing of its signing. There was already growing frustration and disillusionment within the counterrevolutionary circles that the occupant of the White House hadn’t taken a tougher stance against Cuba.

In any case, if not now, it would have been later. As mentioned, that’s why Mr. Rubio is there. His political existence revolves solely around opposing Cuba. He cares little about the war in Ukraine, NATO, or even the conflict in the Middle East—beyond his commitments to the Zionists.

The NSP/N-5 memo is the latest assault on the Cuban family, a continuation of the same policy that has repeatedly failed to achieve what it never will. It’s the definition of insanity: trying the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

In light of this failed obsession, it’s worth recalling what Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz said when the infamous Helms-Burton Act was made public, during a public rally in Matanzas on March 17, 1996, five days after it was passed:
“They think this law will bring us to our knees, but they don’t know this people. Every time they’ve attacked us, we’ve grown stronger, more united, and more revolutionary.”

Trump, that message is for you too.

Translated by Sergio A. Paneque Díaz / CubaSí Translated Staff