US sanctions Cuban armed forces minister, arms network

The United States announced sanctions on Thursday targeting Cuban Armed Forces Minister General Alvaro Lopez Miera, seven other people and five state-owned entities, citing their alleged role in foreign military cooperation and arms procurement.

The US State Department said the measures target state-owned entities, military enterprises and officials in Cuba's Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces involved in foreign military cooperation and the procurement of military equipment intended for the Cuban government.

The other people sanctioned include the chief of general staff of the Cuban armed forces, the heads of the military's foreign relations and economic wings, and Cuba's military attaches to China and Russia.

The State Department said the targeted state-linked entities are alleged to help Cuban procurement of weapons from countries Washington considers adversaries, including China and Russia. It said the designations follow its July 20 report on Cuba's partnerships with Russia and China.

The Trump administration has issued a series of sanctions targeting Cuba, saying the measures are intended to increase pressure on the country's ruling Communist party and government.

Earlier Thursday, independent UN experts warned that US sanctions and an effective oil blockade risked pushing Cuba into a “full-blown crisis”. They said economic conditions had worsened, major shortages and widespread power outages had followed, and energy, transport, irrigation and basic services were failing, with women, children, older people and other vulnerable groups disproportionately affected.