Trump issues tough directive on Cuba

Washington [US], July 1: US President Donald Trump on June 30 signed a directive imposing a tough US policy on Cuba and reversing measures put in place by former President Joe Biden, according to the White House.
Trump 's new directive "enforces the statutory ban on U.S. travel to Cuba and ensures compliance through regular audits and mandatory recordkeeping of all travel-related transactions for at least five years," the White House said in a statement, according to Reuters.
While Americans cannot travel to Cuba for leisure, they are allowed to travel to the country for educational or humanitarian activities.
The new directive supports the economic embargo against Cuba and opposes calls at the United Nations and other international forums to end the embargo, according to a White House statement.
Also under the June 30 directive, Mr. Trump extended the ban on direct or indirect financial transactions with entities controlled by the Cuban military, such as Grupo de Administracion Empresarial SA (GAESA) and its affiliates, except for transactions that promote US policy objectives or support the Cuban people.
As president, Mr. Biden revoked Mr. Trump's 2017 order restricting financial transactions with certain Cuban entities linked to the country's military and government.
In response, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez wrote on social network X on June 30 that "The presidential directive against Cuba announced by the US government today reinforces the aggression and the economic blockade that punishes the entire Cuban people and is the main obstacle to our development," according to Reuters.
"This is a crime and a violation of human rights for an entire country. The main obstacle to our development," Mr. Rodriguez wrote.
In one of his first acts after taking office in January, President Trump reversed a last-minute decision by the Biden administration to remove Cuba from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism. Trump also placed partial restrictions on travel from Cuba, according to Reuters.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper