US sanctions Raúl Castro's grandson, Cuban state entities

The United States imposed new sanctions on Cuba on Thursday, September 3, 2026, targeting a grandson of former President Raúl Castro and several state-linked entities in a move aimed at intensifying economic pressure on the island. The action, announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, comes as Cuba faces a deepening energy crisis and widespread blackouts, with diplomatic talks between the two nations having stalled earlier this year. The sanctions designate Fidel Ernesto Castro Calis, a 31-year-old grandson of Raúl Castro, along with five commercial entities. These include Banco Exterior de Cuba, a state-owned bank handling foreign trade financing, and four companies involved in Cuba's nickel mining and energy sectors. One of the targeted companies is the Oil Industry Supply Import Company, known as Abapet, which is responsible for importing equipment and spare parts needed to maintain Cuba's aging power grid. The U.S. State Department stated the measures were issued under Executive Order 14404, an authority established in May 2026 to target individuals and organizations linked to political repression and state-controlled economic networks in Cuba. The sanctions freeze all U.S.