US Sanctions Cuban Leaders Amidst Growing Domestic Criticism of Regime
The United States government this Friday imposed sanctions on Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, the Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces Álvaro López Miera, and the Minister of the Interior Lázaro Alberto Álvarez Casas, citing “serious human rights violations.” The move, timed to coincide with the first anniversary of the July 11, 2021 demonstrations, has been met with defiant rhetoric from Havana, but also a surge of critical commentary from the Cuban population itself.
The State Department announced the sanctions, which include visa revocations and prohibitions on entry into US territory for the sanctioned individuals and their families, under Section 7031(c) of the State Department’s credit law for the fiscal year 2025. This legislation targets foreign officials implicated in significant corruption or human rights abuses. Additional visa restrictions were also imposed on unidentified Cuban legal and penitentiary officials accused of involvement in arbitrary detentions and torture related to the July 11th protests.
Cuban officials immediately framed the sanctions as a sign of weakness from Washington. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla asserted via his social media account that the measures would not “bend the will of this people or its leaders,” despite what he characterized as a “prolonged and ruthless economic war.” Vice Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío echoed this sentiment, labeling the sanctions an “act of pride and helplessness” on the part of the US government. “The alleged sanction is assumed with pride, as the expression of the one who serves a dignified, rebellious and indomitable people,” Fernández de Cossío stated.
However, this attempt to portray the visa restrictions as a badge of honor fell largely flat with many Cubans. A wave of responses on social media mocked the government’s stance, questioning the apparent contradiction of condemning the “empire” while simultaneously seeking access to it. “But if the United States is so bad, keep us ‘blocked’ and everything, why does your president or any manager want to go there?” one user asked. Another bluntly stated, “If they hate the Empire, they don’t need to travel there. So the withdrawal of visas does not affect them.”
The online backlash revealed a deeper discontent, with many Cubans arguing that the true source of their hardship lies not with external pressures, but with decades of internal repression and economic mismanagement. “The United States could not bend the will of the #Cuban people, it is true. But those who have really trampled it for decades are the same leaders who today victimize themselves while repressing, lying and living like kings,” one user wrote in response to Rodríguez. Another commentator referenced the July 11th protests, stating, “it was proven that the people do not want them and that the United States has no sanctions against the Cuban people; the Cuban people is not the CCP or the gang of criminals who governs the country.” Images of overflowing landfills accompanied the post, highlighting the stark realities of daily life on the island.
This divergence between official narratives and public perception underscores a growing disconnect. While the government attempts to project an image of ideological resilience, many Cubans perceive opportunism and a lack of accountability. The US government’s actions also extend beyond individual sanctions. As part of its diplomatic efforts, the State Department has updated its list of prohibited accommodations in Cuba, adding 11 new hotels, including the “Torre K” in Havana, all linked to the military conglomerate Gaesa.
The imposition of these sanctions represents a continuation of US policy aimed at holding the Cuban regime accountable for human rights violations. Similar measures were previously enacted in 2019 by former President Donald Trump, targeting Raúl Castro and his sons. The ongoing tensions between Havana and Washington, rooted in a long history of distrust and political conflict, show no signs of abating. These sanctions further complicate the possibility of dialogue and cooperation between the two nations.
