The United States has imposed a fresh round of sanctions on Cuba, targeting eight entities and two individuals and identifying five vessels as blocked property, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Thursday, 5 November.

The measures open the door to sanctions against foreign businesses operating in four sectors of the Cuban economy — electronics, manufacturing, marine and technology — under a Treasury determination issued under Executive Order 14404.

Who was targeted

Among those designated is Grupo de Administracion Empresarial SA (GAESA), the military-linked conglomerate, and its executive president, along with a joint nickel venture, Moa Nickel SA. The sanctions also reach oil-shipping networks accused of moving Cuban crude.

Two China-based companies — China National Electronic Import and Export Company and Beijing H&C Technologies — were also designated, accused by Washington of supplying military-related equipment and surveillance gear to Havana.

Rubio's message

Rubio said the sanctions "demonstrate that the Trump Administration will not stand by while Cuba's communist regime threatens our national security in our hemisphere".

The announcement came hours after United Nations experts described Washington's effective fuel blockade of the island as tantamount to "energy starvation", according to Al Jazeera.

Pressure since January

Washington has tightened pressure on Havana since the January abduction of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, cutting off Venezuelan oil deliveries that Cuba has long relied on. President Donald Trump has also signed an executive order creating a path to sanction any country that delivers fuel to the island, and has repeatedly threatened military action.

Rubio has also publicly invited Cubans seeking political change to work with the CIA, and Trump has suggested US warships returning from Iran could head to Cuba.