US sanctions five Cuban entities and eight individuals over military procurement

The United States imposed sanctions on five Cuban entities and eight individuals on 6 August 2026. The measures were taken under Executive Order 14404, signed by President Donald Trump in May 2024. The order authorises sanctions against individuals and organisations accused of repression in Cuba and threats to US national security.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the sanctions in a statement. He said the sanctioned parties were involved in procuring military equipment for Cuba’s Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (MINFAR) and its security forces. The entities include subsidiaries of the military conglomerate GAESA, a military holding company and a military aircraft repair business, as reported by WTVB.

The individuals sanctioned include Alvaro Lopez Miera, Cuba’s minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, and Roberto Legra Sotolongo, chief of the General Staff, according to the US State Department as reported by WTVB. Cuba’s military attachés to Russia and China were also sanctioned. Waldo Perez Cortes, Cuba’s military, naval and air attaché in Beijing, was named by the South China Morning Post.

Rubio said in the statement that Cuba serves as a staging ground for Russia, China and Iran for operations against the US. He warned third parties that supporting the sanctioned entities could result in additional US penalties. Cuba’s authorities did not respond to a request for comment, as reported by WTVB.

What the reports disagree on

Anadolu Ajansı reported that Rubio described Cuba as a "state sponsor of terrorism" in his statement. No other report below carried that phrase. Anadolu Ajansı also reported that Rubio said Cuba "spies on America, arms violent left-wing radicals, [and] spreads poisonous Marxist ideology". The other reports did not include those claims.

What the coverage left out

None of the right-rated digests or reports mentioned the US declaration of a national emergency this year that would impose tariffs on any country supplying oil to Cuba. None of the centre-rated digests or reports quoted Rubio’s statement that Cuba is a "state sponsor of terrorism". No left-rated outlet ran the story at all.