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The Trump administration expanded its maximum pressure campaign against the Cuban regime on Monday by including Grupo Caudal S.A. in the List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
The Caudal Group, officially known as Superior Organization of Business Management Caudal S.A. (OSDE Caudal S.A.), is the main state-owned conglomerate of insurance and financial services in Cuba, based in Havana and founded on March 31, 2000.
Counting Caudal, the OFAC sanctioned 10 state entities on July 13, including repressive agencies and key companies and institutions that support the Cuban regime.
The designation was made under the authority of Executive Order 14404, signed by President Donald Trump on May 1, 2026, which imposes sanctions on those responsible for repression in Cuba and who pose threats to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.
The State Department described the new round of sanctions as "additional measures against the sources of funding for the Cuban regime and its tools of oppression," according to the official statement from the Secretary of State.
The sanctioned group consists of eight companies specialized in the financial and insurance sector: ESEN (National Insurance), ESICUBA (International Insurance of Cuba), CANEC (Business Consultants and Advisors), Conas (Associated Consultants), Interaudit (Economic Auditing and Consulting), Intermar (Marine Insurance and Surveying), SIS Cubacontrol (Inspection and Verification of Cargo) and Asistur (Travel Assistance).
Aisistur, one of the companies in the group, operated as a correspondent for over 200 foreign companies and had offices in the main tourist hubs of the country, illustrating the international exposure of the conglomerate and the potential reach of the sanctions.
In the same action on July 13, the OFAC also placed on the blacklist the Cuban Ministry of Tourism (MINTUR), the Maritime Port Transportation Business Group (GEMAR), the Foreign Trade Business Group (GECOMEX), and the Antillana Export Corporation SA (ANTEX), the latter linked to the Business Management Group S.A. (GAESA).
Likewise, the fuel marketing companies COREYDAN S.A. and ENETEC S.A. were appointed.
The Association of Combatants of the Cuban Revolution (ACRC), the Militia of Territorial Troops (MTT), and the Rapid Response Brigades were also blocked; the latter being paramilitary groups established in June 1991 that the regime has used to suppress protests, including those on July 11, 2021.
This new round adds to a series of designations made since May 2026. The squeeze on the economic and military leadership of the regime has previously targeted GAESA, the Ministry of the Interior (MININT), the General Directorate of Intelligence (DGI), the Revolutionary National Police, and figures such as Miguel Díaz-Canel and members of the Castro family.
The United States also sanctioned CUPET last June, and the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces was also blocked in that same round.
The OFAC also warned that any entity with 50% or more ownership by GAESA, MININT, or MINFAR is automatically blocked, a warning also directed at foreign companies operating with the regime.
With the inclusion of Grupo Caudal, Washington tightens the grip on the financial and insurance sector of the Cuban state, cutting off potential avenues for international financing through insurance operations, reinsurance, and services with foreign counterparts.
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