Donald Trump suddenly develops interest in financial enforcement now that it can’t interfere with his business dealings

President Donald Trump signed a new executive order on Monday that brings back all the sanctions against Cuba that were previously relaxed. The order also adds new measures targeting Cuban companies linked to the country’s military.

According to Politico, the order builds upon Trump’s 2017 policy, which he signed in Miami. While the previous order focused on direct financial dealings, this new one goes further by targeting both direct and indirect financial transactions that might benefit Cuba’s military or intelligence services.

From the reports of the Miami Herald, GAESA, a Cuban military-owned business group, has been secretly running remittance companies that break U.S. sanctions, bringing in billions of dollars each year. Earlier this year, Secretary of State Marco Rubio took action against one such company, Orbit S.A., which was allegedly managed by a former GAESA executive.

Trump administration steps up pressure on Cuban officials and their allies

The U.S. government is also taking aim at Cuban officials and their international partners. The administration has warned it will take away visas from officials who violate the rights of Cuban doctors working in medical missions abroad. These missions are a major source of income for Cuba, which says it uses the money for its healthcare system.

This latest move is part of Trump’s broader strategy to force international relationships to bend to his volatile demands, reversing previous policies that tried to improve relations with Cuba. On his first day in office, Trump put Cuba back on the list of state sponsors of terror and brought back a list of “restricted entities” tied to the Cuban government that face extra sanctions.

The Cuban government has strongly rejected these measures. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla called the order “criminal” on the social media platform X. He said it “reinforces aggression and the economic blockade, which punishes the entire Cuban people and serves as the principal obstacle for our development.”

Trump’s actions have been well-received by Miami’s Cuban exile community, who have largely supported him in elections. Many in this community want the U.S. to help remove Cuba’s communist government. Trump has shown his support by appointing several Cuban Americans to important positions in his administration, including Marco Rubio as Secretary of State amid ongoing speculation about Trump’s reading abilities and decision-making process.