US Imposes New Sanctions on Cuba Military Conglomerate

The United States has imposed new sanctions on a Cuban military-controlled conglomerate as part of a months-long pressure campaign against the island nation. The measures announced on Thursday target Grupo de Administracion Empresarial SA (GAESA), which maintains ties to nearly all segments of Cuba's economy.

They also apply to Ania Guillermina Lastres Morera, the executive president of GAESA and Moa Nickel SA. The sanctions were announced hours after three United Nations special rapporteurs condemned what they called an "unlawful blockade" that has restricted fuel deliveries to Cuba.

The UN experts stated that the restrictions amount to "energy starvation," a condition in which the lack of fuel disrupts essential services required for daily life. They added that the policy is incompatible with international human rights norms.

“Energy starvation as a coercive tool is incompatible with international human rights norms.”

Sherritt International Corp said in a statement that it had suspended its direct participation in the Moa Nickel SA joint venture following the sanctions. The company operates the venture alongside Cuba's state-owned nickel company. Only one Russian oil tanker has reached Cuba in recent months amid the restrictions.

The UN experts pointed to reports that fuel scarcity has prevented people from reaching hospitals and children from attending school. They stated that Cuba's health system faces a backlog of more than 96,000 surgeries, including 11,000 for children.

The experts defined energy starvation as a condition that undermines a wide range of human rights. Cuba's government did not immediately reply to the latest sanctions. " The restrictions follow an executive order that created a path to sanction any country delivering fuel to Cuba.

The measures come after Venezuelan oil deliveries to Cuba were staunched earlier this year. Those deliveries had long served as a lifeline for the island. The country is also experiencing an energy crisis compounded by economic stagnation.