Donald Trump shocked the world with his swift takedown of Venezuela. Now he’s looking to do it again.
Because Trump’s crosshairs are aimed at one more Caribbean nation.
Florida Republicans Rally Behind Trump’s Cuba Strategy
Florida’s Republican representatives, Carlos Giménez, Mario Díaz-Balart, and María Elvira Salazar, are stepping up pressure on the Trump administration to seal off a lingering loophole in the U.S. embargo against Cuba, arguing that ongoing commercial exports are propping up the oppressive regime rather than aiding ordinary Cubans.
These lawmakers, hailing from districts with strong Cuban-American communities, have compiled a detailed 50-page report exposing over $100 million in licensed shipments, including high-end vehicles and luxury goods, headed to addresses linked to Havana’s ruling elite.
Their initiative aligns with the Trump team’s robust approach, which has already tightened the screws on Cuba’s economy through an effective oil blockade.
In a pointed letter to Commerce Under Secretary Jeffrey Kessler and Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control Director Bradley Smith, the trio expressed deep alarm, stating, “[We are] beyond concerned by U.S. businesses currently engaged in disturbing commercial activity with entities controlled by the regime in Cuba, a listed State Sponsor of Terrorism.”
“Such activity risks undermining the central objectives of U.S. sanctions policy and contradicts the intent of Congress as reflected in U.S. law, including the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996.”
They further criticized existing licenses, noting, “Despite these mandates, a number of licenses issued by both OFAC and BIS continue to authorize transactions that ultimately benefit the Cuban regime and its military-controlled conglomerates.”
Trump’s Oil Blockade Pushes Cuba to the Brink
The Trump administration’s decisive sanctions have brought Cuba’s oil-dependent economy to a critical juncture, with President Miguel Díaz-Canel admitting the nation is “close to failing” and warning that fuel reserves could deplete in just 15 days due to threatened U.S. tariffs on suppliers.
Labeling the measures as “genocidal” and “fascist,” Díaz-Canel vowed Cuba would resist “to the last drop of blood,” with no talks on the horizon.
This pressure builds on shifts like the potential post-Maduro changes in Venezuela and recent sanctioned Russian aircraft arrivals in Cuba, underscoring the effectiveness of Trump’s hardline stance against state sponsors of terrorism.
Latin America policy analyst Andrés Martínez-Fernández highlighted the disparity in exports, observing, “A lot of these categories of, you know, like you say expensive cars and even talking about, like, cement — we’re exporting building products — and everything’s crumbling in Cuba except for the houses of the government officials and their regime collaborators.”
He acknowledged the complexity of fully closing off trade, adding, “The reality is that we’re doing a lot at the moment … when it comes to sanctions and some of these tools in particular. It’s not a press-a-button-and-cut-everything-off. You have to go through everything.”
Lawmakers Demand Swift License Revocations to Bolster Trump’s Policies
Urging immediate action, the Florida Republicans are set to confront the Commerce Department, calling for a thorough audit of all active licenses and the revocation of those benefiting Cuba’s military and state entities, in full compliance with the LIBERTAD Act.
They demanded, “Revoke any licenses that directly or indirectly provide economic benefit to regime-controlled entities, consistent with the restrictions mandated by the LIBERTAD Act [and] enhance scrutiny of future requests for licensing related to Cuba to ensure full alignment with both the letter and the intent of U.S. law.”
In a show of solidarity with the administration’s firm policies, the lawmakers affirmed, “[We] look forward to your agencies strongly enforcing U.S. sanctions against the Cuban dictatorship and upholding the Administration’s common-sense policy against the brutal regime on the island.”
This push targets Miami-based companies and aims to eliminate any remaining avenues that could undermine Trump’s successful efforts to promote democracy and human rights in Cuba.
