US ramps up Cuba sanctions and detentions of Americans returning from the island

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump's administration is increasing pressure on Cuba by imposing more economic penalties on industries in the heavily sanctioned socialist country and broadening enforcement of laws that bar Americans who visit the island from dealings with government-owned or -affiliated businesses.

Meanwhile, the Treasury and State departments confirmed Thursday that they are leveling new penalties against nine state-owned mining, metal and construction businesses along with the leadership of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples, or ICAP.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio remarked the institute is responsible for sponsoring "a vast subversive network in the United States aimed at identifying, cultivating, and radicalizing" Americans.

"Just days ago, the regime attempted to use Communist kingpin and despot Fidel Castro's 100th birthday to reinvigorate this subversive network, ferrying a new brigade of international sympathizers to Havana to network with regime officials, " Rubio remarked in an official note.

"The Trump Administration will not stand by while a hostile foreign power seeks to exploit our freedoms – none of which are afforded to its people – by misleading and corrupting American citizens with lies, spy tradecraft, and other malfeasance as part of the regime's raison d'être of exporting Marxism, racial resentment, and Communist violence across the world, " Rubio remarked.

While additionally boosting economic sanctions designed to cut off funding for the Cuban administration, trump's Republican administration has steadily ratcheted up pressure on Havana, threatening it with potential military intervention even when mired in a conflict against Iran. An oil blockade that the U.S. Imposed on Cuba after the American military raid that ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, whose country provided Cuba with subsidized oil, has plunged the already economically crippled island into full-blown crisis.

Taken together, the developments around US ramps up Cuba sanctions and detentions of Americans returning from the point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.