Trump administration adds Cuban bank to US restricted list | Al Jazeera

The United States has added a Cuban bank to its restricted entities list, alleging that the financial institution has ties to the Cuban military and its profits help fund the country’s “interference” in Venezuela.

In a statement on Friday, the US State Department said it was adding Banco Financiero International SA (BFI) to the Cuba Restricted List, a list of entities that the US alleges have ties to the Cuban military, intelligence or security services.

Anyone subject to the US jurisdiction is prohibited from engaging in financial transactions with institutions on the list.

“Adding BFI to the Cuba Restricted List furthers the Administration’s goal of preventing the Cuban military from controlling and benefiting from financial transactions that should instead benefit the Cuban people,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in the statement.

Cuba’s foreign minister, Bruno Rodriguez, rejected the announcement, tweeting on Friday that it was a “punitive measure of #US State Department to tighten blockade against #Cuba”.

“The inclusion of Cuban entities in its lists is intended to reinforce an economic siege that has failed to destroy the Cuban Revolution after 62 years,” Rodriguez wrote.