In a fresh wave of economic restrictions, the United States has blocked financial transactions involving a key Cuban remittance service, marking another blow to the island’s economy. The move, announced Friday, signals a renewed crackdown on Cuba following President Donald Trump’s return to office.
The decision specifically targets Orbit, SA, a remittance-processing company that has become a primary channel for money transfers from Cuban-Americans to their relatives on the island. According to U.S. officials, Orbit has ties to Cuba’s military, a claim that places it in violation of Washington’s broader sanctions aimed at restricting the Cuban government’s access to foreign currency.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a longtime critic of the Cuban regime, emphasized the need for tighter restrictions. “We are cutting off financial flows that empower a system of oppression and surveillance,” Rubio stated. “The Cuban people deserve freedom, not more control by the state.”
The Trump administration previously imposed similar measures against Fincimex, another Cuban financial entity accused of having military affiliations. In response, Havana redirected transactions through Orbit, which now finds itself in Washington’s crosshairs.
For many Cuban families, remittances serve as a crucial economic lifeline, providing much-needed support amid food shortages and an ongoing financial crisis. The new restrictions could significantly disrupt this flow of funds, leaving many Cuban-Americans searching for alternative ways to send money home.
This latest policy shift further dismantles the engagement strategy pursued by former President Barack Obama, who sought to open diplomatic and economic channels with Cuba. Under Obama, Washington attempted to normalize relations, a process that was largely reversed during Trump’s first term and is now being reinforced with even stricter measures.
As tensions between the two countries escalate, the Cuban government has yet to issue a formal response. However, analysts predict that Havana will seek alternative financial mechanisms to bypass U.S. sanctions, keeping the battle over economic control far from over.
