Havana: The top American diplomat in Cuba signaled on Friday that additional sanctions against Cuban officials are imminent, reinforcing the Trump administration’s hardline stance on the island nation.
Speaking at a press conference in Miami, U.S. Embassy chief of mission Mike Hammer stated that the most recent punitive measures—announced earlier this week—are only the beginning of a broader campaign targeting Cuban authorities involved in political repression.
“The sanctions announced this Wednesday were just the beginning,” Hammer told reporters. “This administration is determined to sanction repressors. There will be consequences for their actions.”
On Wednesday, the U.S. imposed visa restrictions on three Cuban judges and a prosecutor for their roles in sentencing political dissidents. These actions follow a series of aggressive policy reversals since President Donald Trump returned to office in January, including the re-listing of Cuba as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, tougher restrictions on remittances, and the dismantling of Biden-era migration agreements.
Hammer, a seasoned diplomat fluent in Spanish, has made a visible presence across the island since his arrival six months ago. His outreach has included visits to dissidents’ families, local entrepreneurs, and everyday citizens in both rural and urban areas. In embassy-produced videos shared on social media, Hammer is seen engaging with locals—from playing dominoes with children in Camagüey to visiting national monuments like the tomb of José Martí in Santiago.
His visits come amid Cuba’s most severe economic crisis in decades. The Cuban government attributes the crisis largely to the longstanding U.S. embargo, which restricts trade, financial transactions, and tourism. However, Hammer said many of the Cubans he has met during his travels do not share that view.
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“The people recognize that those responsible are the Cuban regime, it has nothing to do with any policy of the United States,” Hammer remarked.
That assertion has provoked strong backlash from Havana. Cuban officials accuse Hammer of attempting to destabilize the country and paint the Trump administration in a favorable light among Cuban citizens.
“Hammer’s comments were not part of a neutral press conference, but rather a carefully orchestrated political operation…designed to position the Trump administration and (Secretary of State) Marco Rubio as though they were ‘allies of the Cuban people,'” said Johana Tablada, a Cuban diplomat handling relations with the U.S.
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Despite the escalating rhetoric, Cuba has not yet restricted Hammer’s movements within the country. However, a recent statement in state-run media warned that the government’s “patience has limits”.
Hammer, undeterred, emphasized his commitment to continued engagement.
“What are they scared of? I’m just a simple chief of mission talking with the people,” he said.
