New restrictions are being placed upon Cuba by the Trump administration, national security adviser John Bolton announced on Wednesday. Much of this has to do with an effort by the president to punish Cuba for their support of Venezuelan government of President Nicolas Maduro, and seeking rolling back on the opening of Havana by the Obama Administration. These new measures come after Secretary of State Mike Pimpeo announced that the administration will remove the restraints that would allow US citizens to file a lawsuit to seek compensation for property seized by the Cuban revolutionary government, who took power there sixty years ago. It is not only Cuba either, Bolton also announced sanctions against Venezuela and Nicaragua.
-
The first of the new measures is that the administration will reinstating limits on how much money Cuban Americans can send back to their relatives in Cuba, which will now be set at $1,000 per person. The second is that, “the Department of the Treasury will implement further regulatory changes to restrict non-family travel to Cuba,” and that, “these new measures will help steer Americans dollars away from the Cuban regime,” according to Bolton. Finally it will allow the US to deny or revoke visas to anyone deemed to be using confiscated property, as well as their families.
-
Ending the waiver system that prevented compensation lawsuits by US citizens against anyone “trafficking” in seized property in Cuba, will also be a big blow to the country. Already about 6,000 cases, by both Americans and naturalized Cuban Americans, have received certified validification from the US government and can proceed to litigation. The government values theses claims at more than $8 billion, accounting for actual value and interest. The EU and Canada released a joint statement where they disagree with the US’ moves and, “consider the extraterritorial application of unilateral Cuba-related measures contrary to international law.”
-
Sanctions on Venezuela and Nicaragua are intended to be a “strong warning to all external actors, including Russia,” according to Bolton. One of the sanctions is that they will be barring the countries banking systems from US dollar transactions, which largely has to do with Russia’s involvement is providing financial support, selling military equipment, as well as deploying nearly 100 military personnel. With Russia supporting the government of Nicolas Maduro and the US siding with Juan Guaido as the legitimate president, it is not hard to see why lines are being drawn in the sand by the administration.
