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President Donald Trump A state of emergency was declared through an executive order on Cuba on Thursday, accusing the communist regime of aligning itself with hostile foreign powers and terrorist groups while taking steps to punish countries that supply the island nation with oil.
on Thursday decree declares that the policies and actions of the Cuban government constitute “an unusual and extraordinary threat, originating in whole or in part outside the United States, to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.”
To address this threat, Trump ordered the creation of a tariff mechanism allowing the United States to impose additional tariffs on imports from foreign countries that directly or indirectly “sell or sell” tariffs. supply oil to Cuba“, according to the order.
The White House said this decision marks an important turning point escalation of American pressure on the Cuban government, aimed at protecting the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States.
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President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday imposing tariffs on countries that supply oil to the Cuban regime. (Al Drago/Reuters)
In that order, Trump said Cuba aligns with and provides support to “many hostile countries, transnational terrorist groups and malicious actors hostile to the United States,” citing Russia, China, Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah.
The administration said Cuba hosts Russia’s largest overseas signals intelligence center, which the order says aims to steal sensitive U.S. national security information. The order also states that Cuba continues to deepen its intelligence and defense cooperation with China.
According to the order, Cuba “welcomes transnational terrorist groups, such as Hezbollah and Hamas.”
Trump also cited the Cuban government’s human rights record, accusing the regime of persecuting and torturing political opponents, denying free speech and freedom of the press, and retaliating against families of political prisoners who peacefully protest.
“The United States has zero tolerance for the depredations of the Cuban communist regime,” Trump said in the order, adding that the administration would act to hold the regime accountable while supporting the aspirations of the Cuban people for a free and democratic society.
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Trump also cited the Cuban government’s human rights record and alleged reprisals against the families of political prisoners who were peacefully protesting. (Yamil Lage/AFP via Getty Images)
Under the order, the Commerce Department will determine whether a foreign country supplies oil to Cuba, either directly or through intermediaries. The Department of State, in conjunction with the Treasury, Homeland SecurityThe Commerce Department and the U.S. Trade Representative will decide whether and to what extent the new tariffs should be imposed.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is responsible for monitoring the national emergency and reporting to Congress, while the Commerce Department will continue to track which countries are supplying oil to Cuba.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, left, meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, June 12, 2024, in Moscow. (AP photo, file)
In a information sheetThe White House said the order was intended to protect U.S. national security and foreign policy from the “malicious actions and policies” of the Cuban regime, and described the move as part of Trump’s broader efforts to confront regimes that threaten U.S. interests.
The administration said the action builds on Trump’s first-term Cuba policy, which reversed Obama-era engagement and reinstated tougher measures against the communist government.
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The decree is expected to come into force on Friday.
The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for additional comment.