The United States is preparing to impose new, tougher sanctions on Cuba due to its continued support of embattled Venezuelan president, Nicolas Maduro. The US has accused Cuba of providing training, weaponry, and intelligence to the Maduro administration. New sanctions are expected to target Cuba’s tourism industry and are also intended to disrupt the country’s oil trade with Venezuela.
Maduro has remained in power in Venezuela despite the Trump administration’s campaign of “maximum pressure” designed to unseat him. The US has thrown its support behind opposition leader Juan Guaido, whom it and many other nations recognize as the legitimate president of Venezuela. Maduro retains the support of the country’s military.
The US also intends to examine Russia’s role in the controversy, which many believe is largely financial. Russian oil company Rosneft has assisted Venezuela in continuing to sell its oil despite US sanctions on state-run Venezuelan oil companies. As of October 2019, the Trump administration has not announced concrete plans to take action against Rosneft.
