Cuba's FM: U.S. Strengthens Embargo, Hinders Cuba’s Development

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez denounced today that the Presidential Memorandum signed by U.S. President Donald Trump reinforces a policy of aggression and tightens the economic embargo against Cuba, with harmful effects on the population and the country’s development.

In a post on X, Rodríguez stated, “The Presidential Memorandum against #Cuba released today by the U.S. government strengthens the aggression and the economic embargo that punishes the entire Cuban people and is the main obstacle to our development. It is a criminal act and a violation of the #HumanRights of an entire nation.”

President Donald Trump signed the memorandum earlier today, intensifying his administration’s hardline policy on Cuba and reversing measures previously implemented by his predecessor, Joe Biden.

According to a statement issued by the White House, the directive imposes a legal ban on tourism from the United States to Cuba, while reaffirming and strengthening the economic, commercial, and financial embargo against the Caribbean nation.

The memorandum states that it “restores and strengthens the firm policy toward Cuba implemented during [Trump’s] first term” and that compliance will be ensured “through periodic audits and the mandatory maintenance of records of all travel-related transactions for no less than five years.”

It also makes clear the administration's opposition to calls in the United Nations and other international forums demanding an end to the embargo.

Through this memorandum, the Republican president renewed the prohibition of any direct or indirect financial transactions with Cuban entities such as the Business Administration Group S.A. (GAESA) and its subsidiaries.