Donald Trump announced on Friday a strengthening of sanctions against Cuba, where a parade took place on the occasion of May 1 to "defend the homeland" and denounce threats of American military aggression.

Published on: 05/01/2026 - 9:01 p.m. Modified on: 05/02/2026 - 11:22 a.m.

An immediate sanction. While a parade was organized in Cuba on the occasion of May 1 to "defend the homeland" and denounce threats of American military aggression, Donald Trump announced on Friday a toughening of sanctions against the communist island.

The American president believes that Cuba, located 150 kilometers from the coast of Florida, continues to represent "an extraordinary threat" to the national security of the United States.

He reiterated Friday, during a speech, his threat to "take control" of Cuba, suggesting that an American aircraft carrier could stop there "on its way back from Iran."

The new American sanctions, which appear in a presidential decree and are intended to increase pressure on Havana in the midst of an economic crisis, target in particular foreign banks which collaborate with the Cuban government, and impose restrictions on immigration.

In this decree, Donald Trump imposes sanctions against personalities and entities involved in the energy, mining and other sectors of the island, as well as against anyone found guilty of "serious violations of human rights".

Cuba denounces Washington's "energy siege"

The Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bruno Rodriguez, described on X these American sanctions as “illegal” and “abusive”.

“It is no coincidence that these measures were announced on May 1, the same day that millions of Cubans took to the streets to denounce the American blockade and the energy siege,” he added.

In addition to the American embargo in force since 1962, Washington, which does not hide its desire to see a change of regime in Havana, has imposed an oil blockade on Cuba since January, having since then authorized the arrival of only one Russian tanker.

Read alsoRussian tanker Anatoly Kolodkin arrived in Cuba, despite the American blockade

On Friday morning, a parade was held in front of the US Embassy in Havana, attended by revolutionary leader Raul Castro, 94, and Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel.

Authorities claimed half a million participants in Havana, a figure that AFP was unable to independently verify. Cubans also mobilized in the country's main cities.

Under the slogan "the homeland, we defend it", the government had summoned employees of state companies, civil servants, members of the Cuban Communist Party (PCC, single) to converge at dawn towards an esplanade called the "anti-imperialist tribune" and located opposite the American diplomatic mission.

“The response from the people was strong, right in front of the United States embassy,” Lidice Guridis, a 42-year-old employee, told AFP.

The collapse of the tourism sector

Already shaken by a deep economic crisis under the combined effect of the strengthening of American sanctions under Donald Trump's first term (2017-2021), the structural weaknesses of its centralized economy and a failed monetary reform, the island of 9.6 million inhabitants has seen its activity almost paralyzed since the end of January.

Tourism, an important source of foreign exchange, has collapsed by half since the start of the year, the production of nickel and cobalt is at a standstill, while the tobacco sector, another export sector, is suffering from a lack of fuel.

“Faced with the immensity of the restrictions which seek to suffocate us and make us capitulate to irrational threats of war and death, this May 1 confirms that we (...) resist!”, launched from the podium the leader of the Cuban workers' union, Osnay Miguel Colina.

Discussions between the two countries nevertheless took place on April 10 in Havana at a high diplomatic level. On this occasion, an American official also spoke with Raul Rodriguez Castro, the grandson of Raul Castro, also present at the May 1 parade.

Also readCrisis in Cuba: “Raulito”, a Castro as Donald Trump’s joker?

During the rally, the government claimed to have collected in recent weeks more than 6 million signatures from Cubans "for the homeland and for peace", a compilation of which was given to Raul Castro and President Diaz-Canel. Opponents, however, question the conditions for collecting certain signatures.

With AFP

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