US sanctions Cuban firms and officials over military imports

The United States imposed sanctions on five Cuban state-owned entities and eight individuals on August 6, 2026, accusing them of facilitating military procurement and foreign cooperation for the Cuban government. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the measures, alleging they target a network that helps Cuba acquire weapons and equipment from countries including Russia and China, posing a threat to American national security.

The sanctions were enacted under an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on May 1, 2026. The designated entities include Tecnoimport, which is accused of importing military equipment from Russia and China; the Union de Industria Militar, a weapons manufacturer; and EMI Yuri Gagarin, which maintains Cuba's Russian-made military aircraft. The list of sanctioned individuals features high-ranking Cuban military officials such as Defence Minister Alvaro Lopez Miera, Chief of the General Staff Roberto Legra Sotolongo, and Cuba's military attachés to Russia and China.

In a statement, Rubio characterized the Cuban government as a state sponsor of terrorism that spies on the United States, supports violent groups, spreads Marxist ideology, and...