Trump tightens U.S. sanctions on Cuba, signaling a warning to the island, expert says

Local News Trump's executive order tightening U.S. sanctions on Cuba is a warning to other countries, expert says By Abby Dodge Abby Dodge Reporter, CBS News Miami Abby Dodge has been reporting for the CBS Miami team since September 2025. Read Full Bio Abby Dodge Updated on: May 1, 2026 / 11:35 PM EDT / CBS Miami Add CBS News on Google President Trump signed an executive order Friday tightening U.S. sanctions on Cuba, expanding penalties on the island's government and foreign companies that do business with it.The order builds on sanctions introduced earlier this year and signals that Cuba remains a priority for the administration, even as the United States navigates other international conflicts in Iran and elsewhere, experts say.The executive order is aimed at Cuban government officials, people accused of corruption and people who operate in the country's energy, defense or financial services sectors. It does not name any specific sanctioned individuals.The new measures also increase pressure on foreign financial institutions by threatening their access to U.S. markets if they continue to work with Cuban government entities. The administration says the sanctions are also intended to discourage deeper involvement from foreign adversaries.Andy Gómez, a professor of Cuban studies at the University of Miami, said the executive order carries broader geopolitical implications. He said it can be seen as a warning to countries like Russia and China to keep their distance."This is the hidden message behind what has been written, and that's how I read it," he said.The moves follow months of intense pressure on Cuba by the Trump administration, which has used the threat of hefty tariffs to largely block foreign countries from shipping oil to Cuba, causing severe energy shortages. Mr. Trump has not ruled out some kind of military action in Cuba, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the country needs to enact significant economic and political reforms. Mr....