Trump Reshapes Cuba Policy with Stricter Restrictions

Amid rising tensions, Donald Trump enacts a memorandum tightening U.S. policies towards Cuba, responding to calls from Cuban authorities and continuing efforts to support a democratic transition on the island.

Following increasing pressure from various factions, U.S. President Donald Trump has enacted a memorandum that intensifies restrictions on Cuba, reversing previous measures initiated by the Biden administration that had eased U.S. pressure on the island nation. The memorandum includes stricter enforcement of the existing ban on American tourist travel to Cuba, and explicitly rejects international appeals, including those from the United Nations, to lift the ongoing U.S. economic embargo against the Communist-ruled country.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez criticized the development, claiming that the new policy "strengthens the aggression & economic blockade that punishes the whole Cuban people" and remains a significant obstacle to the nation’s development. The White House stated that its goal is to dismantle "economic practices that disproportionately benefit the Cuban government, military, intelligence, or security agencies at the expense of the Cuban people."

While U.S. citizens are prohibited from traveling to Cuba solely for tourism, they can still visit under 12 permitted categories such as family visits, educational engagements, humanitarian efforts, and sports. The updated memorandum emphasizes strict compliance through regular audits and demands that travel-related transaction records be maintained for a minimum of five years.

Additionally, the memorandum bars U.S. citizens from engaging in any business with GAESA, a conglomerate overseen by the Cuban military, which operates a vast number of hotels across the island. The importance of tourism to Cuba's economy cannot be understated, as it generates essential hard currency; however, the tourism industry has been significantly impacted by severe shortages and widespread power outages in recent months.

The memorandum reaffirms President Trump's commitment to fostering a "free and democratic Cuba," while addressing the long-standing hardships faced by Cubans living under a Communist regime. This latest set of policies builds on actions taken during Trump’s initial term and has echoes of his earlier decisions regarding Cuba, including reinstating its designation as a state sponsor of terrorism—a label that had been removed just prior by former President Biden.

Despite strong support from the Cuban-American community for Trump's tough stance, the administration’s choice to revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Cubans along with migrants from Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela has faced backlash and disappointment within the Cuban-American population, highlighting the divisive nature of the current policy landscape.