Cuba denounced the U.S. “peace through strength” doctrine on June 8, 2026, following the implementation of Executive Order 14404. These new sanctions, effective June 6, target top officials and state companies, triggering immediate financial disruptions and a deepening humanitarian crisis involving severe energy shortages and critical healthcare failures.
The current escalation isn’t just a policy shift; it is a systemic tightening of a noose that has existed for over six decades. By expanding the scope of “Specially Designated Nationals” (SDN) and leveraging secondary sanctions, Washington is attempting to isolate the island not just from U.S. markets, but from the global financial architecture entirely.
Executive Order 14404 and the SDN List
The Trump administration’s latest offensive began in earnest on June 6, 2026, with the rollout of Executive Order 14404. As Cubainformación reported, this order places President Miguel Díaz-Canel, several of his family members, and relatives of revolutionary leader Raúl Castro on the SDN list. The sanctions extend to cabinet ministers and high-ranking officials within the Cuban Armed Forces.
The reach of the order goes beyond individuals, targeting the economic engines of the Cuban state.
- FINCIMEX (the state financial entity)
- GAESA and Gaviota (business conglomerates)
- Amistur Cuba S.A. (state agency)
- Moa Nickel S.A. (mining consortium)
- MINFAR (Ministry of the Armed Forces)
- ICAP (Cuban Institute for Friendship with the Peoples) and the CDR (Committees for the Defense of the Revolution)
This isn’t merely symbolic. By labeling these entities as “Specially Designated Nationals”, the U.S. effectively forbids any U.S. citizen, bank, or company from engaging with them. More critically, the threat of secondary sanctions forces non-U.S. entities to choose between trading with Cuba or maintaining access to the American financial system.
The Immediate Collapse of Financial and Tourism Ties
The reaction from the private sector was instantaneous. To avoid U.S. secondary sanctions, the foreign private bank responsible for processing Cuba’s international payments severed ties with FINCIMEX. This move resulted in the total suspension of Visa and Mastercard operations across the island, stripping the country of vital payment infrastructure for both residents and tourists.
Tourism, a primary driver of foreign currency, is currently in freefall. Major hotel chains including Meliá, Iberostar, and Blue Diamond are accelerating their exit from Cuba. Foreign airlines are following suit, fleeing the risk of U.S. retaliation. This exodus creates a dangerous feedback loop: as the tourism sector shrinks, the state’s ability to fund basic services diminishes, further fueling the internal crisis.
Humanitarian Fallout: Energy and Healthcare
The “energy blockade” has shifted from a diplomatic grievance to a tangible catastrophe. According to data cited by Cubainformación, the energy siege has caused total losses of nearly $500 million, with the state company Unión Eléctrica de Cuba (UNE) absorbing $280 million of that hit. This has manifested in daily blackouts that can exceed 20 hours.
The UN News service highlighted warnings from UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, who described the situation as a “perfect storm”. Türk noted that the combination of economic isolation, the exit of foreign firms, summer heat, and hurricane season is pushing the island toward a breaking point.
The impact on the healthcare system is particularly grim.
| Medical Need | Estimated Patient Count |
|---|---|
| Surgical Waitlist | 100,000 (including 11,000 children) |
| Radiotherapy Interruptions | 16,000 |
| Hemodialysis Disruptions | 3,000 |
| Pending Pregnancy Ultrasounds | 32,000 |
| Unvaccinated Children | 30,000 |
Türk warned that these restrictions are placing severe pressure on oncology, dialysis, and maternal health services, aggravating a crisis that already restricts access to food and clean water.
Diplomatic Escalation and the “Act of War” Claim
On June 8, the Cuban government took its grievances to the IV meeting of the Group of Friends in Defense of the UN Charter (GADC), a 21-nation bloc created in 2021 to promote multilateralism. During the session, Vice-Minister Elio Rodríguez argued that the U.S. “peace through strength” doctrine violates international law and the UN Charter.
“The blockade of fuel supplies applied by Washington to the Caribbean country is equivalent, in its effects, to a naval blockade or an act of war in time of peace, to subject the population to conditions that threaten its integrity and existence.
Rodríguez also condemned the recent criminal charges filed against Raúl Castro, calling the move “morally infamous” and “fraudulent.” He warned that any direct military aggression would result in a “blood bath,” asserting that Cuba would fight to the end.
The ideological battle extends beyond the government. CLACSO centers have denounced what they term an “economic, commercial, cultural, psychological, and media war” that intensified after January 3, 2026. They point to Cuba’s inclusion on the state sponsors of terrorism list as the primary justification for the U.S. “asphyxiation” strategy, though they argue no proof has ever been provided to justify the accusation.
Federica Cresci, a member of the “Cuba Mambí” International Action Group, noted that sanctioning the ICAP and Amistur is a particularly grave escalation. She argued that Washington is no longer just attacking political figures, but is actively destroying the channels used for cultural exchange and international solidarity.
“While Washington continues to talk about democracy and human rights, it reinforces a system of unilateral coercive measures that for more than sixty years has economically suffocated the Cuban people and attempts to isolate the island from the rest of the world.
As the GADC continues its annual cycle—which has seen meetings in Venezuela (2023), Iran (2024), and Russia (2025)—the focus now shifts to whether the international community can mobilize to prevent a total humanitarian collapse. With the UN General Assembly demanding an end to the blockade since 1992, the current trajectory suggests a widening gap between international consensus and U.S. policy.
