United States Imposes Sanctions on Cuban President

(Patria) - The United States of America has imposed sanctions on Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel and some individuals and entities associated with him, according to the website of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Reuters reported last night.

The sanctions also targeted four other individuals and five entities, including Cuba's Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces.

Diaz-Canel (60) has been president of the Caribbean nation since he took office from Raul Castro, brother of former Cuban leader Fidel Castro, in 2018.

Washington's action against Diaz-Canel increases pressure on the island's communist leaders.

The sanctions were announced after President Donald Trump told reporters that the United States wants Cuba to be "a nicely run country."

Last month, the U.S. government imposed sanctions on eleven Cuban officials, including the minister of communications, several military leaders, and the main intelligence agency.

The United States also accused Raul Castro of murder for his alleged involvement in a 1996 incident in which Cuban planes shot down aircraft operated by a group of Cuban exiles.