Trump administration sanctions Cuban grand-son of Raúl Castro and state banks
The United States imposed financial sanctions on Fidel Ernesto Castro Calis, a grandson of former Cuban leader Raúl Castro, and on Cuba's state bank Banco Exterior, along with three state-run firms.
On Thursday, the United States announced a new round of financial sanctions against Fidel Ernesto Castro Calis, the grandson of former Cuban president Raúl Castro, and the state-owned Banco Exterior de Cuba. The sanctions also cover three Cuban state enterprises—Nicarotec, Abapet and Cexni—that operate in logistics, industrial services and mineral processing. Marco Rubio, speaking for the State Department, said the designations underscore the Trump administration's unwavering vision of a free Cuba.
The action follows a May 2026 Justice Department indictment of Raúl Castro for his alleged role in a 1996 downing of civilian aircraft that killed three Americans and a U.S. resident. These sanctions are part of a broader U.S. embargo that was recently extended for another year, now running until September 2027, deepening Cuba's ongoing energy and commercial crisis.
Why it matters
The sanctions tighten U.S. pressure on Cuba's leadership and economy amid an extended embargo.
In this story
