US sanctions Cuban state companies, ICAP leaders over alleged subversion and corruption

WASHINGTON, August 20, 2026 — The Trump administration imposed another round of sanctions on Cuba on Thursday, targeting state-owned companies and senior officials as Washington intensifies economic and political pressure on Havana.

The Treasury and State departments announced penalties against nine Cuban state-owned companies operating in the mining, metals and construction sectors, along with leaders linked to the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples, known as ICAP.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused ICAP of operating a network intended to identify, cultivate and radicalize Americans and promote Cuban government influence in the United States. Among those targeted is ICAP President Fernando González Llort, a former Cuban intelligence officer convicted in the United States as part of the so-called Wasp Network.

The State Department said the measures form part of a broader campaign against what Washington describes as Cuban-backed Marxist subversion and corrupt economic activity.

Under the sanctions, property and interests in property belonging to designated parties that fall within US jurisdiction can be blocked, while foreign companies and financial institutions may also face sanctions risks for certain dealings with blocked parties.

The action comes amid a broader US crackdown on engagement with Cuban government-linked institutions.