"Sadly, Cuba's most prominent export these days is not cigars or rum, it's oppression. Detente with the regime has failed. Cozying up to Cuban dictators will always be a black mark on this great nation's long record of defending human rights," Pompeo said in a clear swipe at the Obama administration.
But Pompeo signaled this move was coming by shortening those waivers in recent months and then in March allowing lawsuits against businesses and entities with ties to Cuba's security and intelligence services. Now, lawsuits against any business or entity will be allowed, with no exemptions -- including for American companies. The European Union issued a statement last week to urge the administration not to move forward with the move, threatening lawsuits against the U.S.
The U.S. has certified 6,000 claims by Americans for confiscated property seized by the Castro regime that were worth $2 billion in total at the time they were confiscated, according to the Department of Justice's Foreign Claims Settlement Commission. Those properties could be worth $8 billion with interest now, although a 1996 estimate found that there could be up to 200,000 more claims that have not been certified, potentially worth tens of billions of dollars.
But the lawsuits could also backfire, according to some critics, because it means those European or even American companies would have to now pay compensation, instead of the Cuban government.
The ppl like Pompeo insist to make life hard for millions of Ppl around the World to satisfy their masters in Multi-National Oil companies & Arm Factories. Millions in hunger, suffer & losing their life just because some rich want to be richer. Cuba Venezuela Iran.
Putin also supports Maduro. Time to up the pressure on Russia?
Every sanction, restriction, embargo, or other means of punishment we put on Cuba while we remain cozy with Saudi Arabia makes us look increasingly stupid/hypocritical/evil.