Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Addresses Threats to the United States by the Government of Cuba

President Donald J. Trump has signed an Executive Order declaring a national emergency to confront the "malign actions" of the Cuban regime. The order establishes a new diplomatic and economic tool: a tariff system targeting any country that provides oil to Cuba.

• • Mechanism: The U.S. will impose additional tariffs on imports from any nation that directly or indirectly sells or provides oil to the Cuban government.

  • Implementation: The Secretary of State and the Secretary of Commerce are authorized to issue rules and guidance to operationalize this system.

  • Flexibility: The President maintains the authority to modify or lift these tariffs if Cuba or the affected countries take significant steps to align with U.S. security objectives.

The administration argues that the Cuban regime constitutes an "unusual and extraordinary threat" to the United States for several reasons:

• • Foreign Adversaries: Cuba hosts Russia’s largest overseas signals intelligence facility used to steal sensitive U.S. national security information.

  • Terrorism: The regime provides a safe haven for transnational terrorist groups, specifically mentioning Hezbollah and Hamas.

  • Regional Instability: Cuba is accused of inciting chaos by spreading communist ideology and supporting U.S. adversaries across the Western Hemisphere.

  • Human Rights: The text cites the regime’s history of persecuting political opponents and denying free speech.

The article frames this move as part of a broader, more aggressive second-term strategy to hold dictators accountable:

• • Recent Precedents: The proclamation links the Cuba order to other recent high-profile actions, including strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and the removal of Nicolás Maduro from power in Venezuela.

  • Building on 2025 Actions: This follows the President’s June 2025 implementation of travel restrictions on Cuban nationals and a National Security Presidential Memorandum (NSPM) designed to strengthen U.S. policy toward the island.

Conclusion:
By targeting the energy supply chain of the Cuban regime, the Trump Administration intends to cut off the resources that fuel the island's military and intelligence capabilities. The policy signals a return to a "maximum pressure" campaign intended to protect American interests and weaken communist influence in the region.

New Tariff EnforcementNational Security JustificationsContext of "America First" Foreign Policy