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Experts on hemispheric security and U.S. lawmakers maintain that President Donald Trump should immediately sanction the Instituto Cubano de Amistad con los Pueblos (ICAP) for its connections to terrorist organizations like Hezbollah and its role in the expansion of antisemitism as a propaganda weapon against the United States.
The ICAP, an arm of the Cuban regime and directed by its intelligence apparatus, operates as a platform for recruiting and indoctrinating radical activists from Western countries, denounces an opinion piece by journalist Gelet Martinez Fragela, editor of ADN Cuba, for The Washington Times.
For decades, this entity has operated under the facade of "international solidarity" to establish networks of ideological influence and support for extremist movements, the text states, as shared on her social media by Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar.
Cuba is not just a dictatorship; it is an intelligence dictatorship, states Gelet Martínez Fragela, editor of ADN Cuba. The expert denounces that the regime in Havana exploits antisemitism to link radical groups that do not have clear ideological affinities, but share a common enemy: the United States and its allies.
Consider that Secretary of State Marco Rubio should recommend to President Trump to formally sanction ICAP as part of the strategy to halt Cuban intelligence operations on U.S. and Latin American soil. He argues that this poses a clear and direct threat to U.S. national security.
Salazar, for his part, agrees that the ICAP "is a direct threat to our Jewish community, our national security, and the entire hemisphere."
Among various topics, the text outlines that in 2022, ICAP officially invited to Havana Al-Tajammu, a pro-Iran coalition that includes members of Hezbollah, the Houthis, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, involved in the terrorist attacks of October 7, 2023, organized by Hamas.
During the meeting in Cuba, a collaboration agreement was formalized between ICAP and this extremist network, facilitating connections with like-minded groups in Latin America and the United States. Some of these organizations even hold consultative status at the United Nations, it argues.
Others, like the Network for the Defense of Humanity, function as propaganda and recruitment structures used by Cuban intelligence, the article adds.
The source warns that the threat is real and documented. The ICAP has welcomed anti-Israel activists in Havana who later participated in violent demonstrations in the U.S., including vandalism of Jewish businesses and the occupation of university campuses such as Columbia.
The Party for Socialism and Liberation, also associated with ICAP, has been linked to more than 1,700 anti-Israel protests on U.S. soil, according to the Anti-Defamation League.
After an attack in May 2025 that left two dead at the Israeli embassy in Washington, the alleged perpetrator —Elías Rodríguez— was identified as a member of the party and shouted "Free Palestine" during his arrest.
The undercover operation of the ICAP includes links to an organization in California that channels funds for propaganda and radical mobilization. The treasurer of that group serves as a representative of Al-Tajammu in North America.
In 2017, the regime allowed the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine to establish a branch in Havana, focusing on fundraising activities, producing propaganda content, and coordinating with American activists.
A hack in 2022 of the Iranian state network Press TV revealed at least 52 contacts between its executives and leaders of the National Network on Cuba in the United States, an organization also under the umbrella of ICAP. The connection between Iran, Cuba, and radical anti-American activism was exposed, the source recalls.
Frequently Asked Questions about the sanctions on the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP)
Why is it proposed to sanction the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP)?
It is proposed to sanction the ICAP for its ties to terrorist organizations and its role in the spread of antisemitism as propaganda against the United States. According to experts, the ICAP, under the guise of "international solidarity," recruits and indoctrinates radical activists and supports extremist movements, posing a threat to U.S. national security.
What role does the ICAP play in Cuba's politics?
The ICAP acts as a tool of the Cuban regime for the recruitment and indoctrination of radical activists from Western countries. It functions as an extension of Cuban intelligence, seeking to ideologically influence and support extremist movements in Latin America and the United States.
What is the connection between ICAP and terrorist and radical groups?
The ICAP has established collaboration agreements with pro-Iranian coalitions such as Al-Tajammu, which include members of Hezbollah and other extremist groups. These agreements facilitate connections with like-minded groups in Latin America and the United States, and some of these organizations even have consultative status at the United Nations.
What actions are recommended to counteract the activities of ICAP?
It is recommended that President Donald Trump formally sanction ICAP as part of the strategy to curb Cuban intelligence operations. Additionally, it is suggested that Secretary of State Marco Rubio actively participate in these actions, as ICAP is regarded as a clear and direct threat to the national security of the U.S.
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