Trump's New Memo Mandates Tighter Cuba Restrictions

The latest memorandum aims to reinforce the U.S. economic embargo against Cuba and limit American tourist activities in the island nation.

U.S. President Donald Trump has recently signed a memorandum with the intention of imposing stricter restrictions on Cuba, effectively reversing some of the leniencies introduced by the Biden administration. The White House has announced plans to enhance enforcement of an existing ban that restricts American citizens from traveling to Cuba for tourism purposes and has taken a stand against calls from international organizations, including the UN, to lift the U.S. economic embargo on the nation.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez criticized the new memorandum, labeling it as an escalation of aggression and economic blockade that burdens the Cuban populace and impedes the country's development. According to an official fact sheet released by the White House, the administration aims to eliminate "economic practices that disproportionately aid the Cuban government, military, intelligence, or security agencies at the expense of the Cuban people."

While U.S. citizens have already been prohibited from traveling to Cuba strictly for tourism, there are 12 approved categories of travel, including family visits, educational exchanges, humanitarian endeavors, and sports events. The new memorandum stipulates that adherence to existing policies will be monitored through regular audits and mandates record-keeping of all travel-related transactions for a minimum of five years. Furthermore, it bans U.S. citizens from conducting business with GAESA, a conglomerate controlled by the Cuban military that owns numerous hotels across the island.

Tourism remains a critical source of foreign currency for the Cuban regime; however, visitor numbers have significantly declined due to intensified shortages and widespread power outages affecting the island. As the tourism industry grapples with these challenges, the memorandum reinforces Trump's commitment to achieving a free and democratic Cuba while concurrently addressing the long-suffering conditions of Cubans under a Communist rule.

These newly introduced policies supplement previous measures taken by Trump during his first term and in the recent past. Upon his reinstatement to a second term, Trump reclassified Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, a designation that had only been removed shortly before by the previous administration under Joe Biden. Trump's firm policies toward Cuba enjoy considerable support from the Cuban-American community, although the decision to cancel Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Cuban migrants alongside others from Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela faced significant criticism from many within the community.