Secretary of State Marco Rubio has issued a warning regarding U.S. organizations’ ability to conduct business with specific Cuban entities that have, for over 60 years, maintained relationships with American groups and activists. This is particularly relevant in light of the Cuban Communist revolution led by Fidel Castro in 1959. Many of these relationships are alleged to be funded by American businessman Neville Roy Singham.
The sanctions specifically target the Cuban People’s Association of Friendship, or ICAP, which Fidel Castro established in 1960 to propagate Marxist views and bolster support for Cuba. U.S. intelligence had previously identified ICAP as a vital part of Cuba’s intelligence operations.
“Cuba has long been a hub for far-left terrorism,” Rubio stated. “The regime in Havana has a history of recruiting and aiding violent Marxist movements beyond its borders.”
Recently, ICAP collaborated with various U.S. nonprofits, including People’s Forum and Code Pink, to organize a convoy to Cuba, which included controversial Marxist streamer Hassan Piker, known for his support of the Cuban Communist Party. This convoy has raised questions, with Code Pink’s co-founder, Medea Benjamin, admitting to being questioned by federal authorities to see if any sanctions were breached.
Last month, it was reported that federal investigators are looking into Cuba’s foreign influence operations in the U.S., scrutinizing a network of approximately 145 organizations that promote Cuban policies and communist ideology.
“Today, we are targeting the systems that support Cuba’s harmful initiatives,” Rubio explained.
Organizations affiliated with ICAP include People’s Forum, Code Pink, Breakthrough News, and Tricontinental, the latter of which has financial ties to Singham. Reports indicate that he has funneled around $285 million since 2017 to nonprofits closely linked to ICAP and the Cuban government.
Singham is also married to a co-founder of Code Pink. ICAP is currently under the leadership of Fernando González Rolt, a former Cuban intelligence officer known as one of the “Cuba Five,” who had faced espionage charges in the U.S. Critics argue that ICAP essentially acts as a gateway for revolutionaries to engage in propaganda and strategize for the Cuban Communist Party. ICAP asserts it is simply a civil society organization.
Under sanctions initiated by President Donald Trump, ICAP and other specific entities, including Cuba’s Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces and several state-run businesses, are now off-limits for U.S. entities.
Experts suggest this action signifies a broader focus not only on the Cuban government but also on U.S. institutions perceived to support Cuba’s global influence.
A declassified CIA report from the Cold War emphasizes that Cuba’s propaganda and influence efforts were integral to Castro’s strategy, with ICAP being one of the organizations listed as amplifying sympathetic movements abroad.
The Venceremos Brigades, which began in 1969, have historically connected American activists and the Cuban revolutionary government. This program currently operates under the People’s Forum.
Federal investigators are also examining whether entities funded by Singham are acting on behalf of foreign interests without registering correctly and potentially promoting agendas favorable to both the Chinese Communist Party and Cuba’s regime.
During a recent event in March, Progressive International co-founder David Adler participated alongside Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel and ICAP’s president, underscoring the connections between these groups.
While supporters of such trips maintain they are educational initiatives, critics argue they serve as fronts for political influence, further entrenching support for the Cuban regime. Cuba’s government has swiftly condemned Rubio’s sanctions, with President Diaz-Canel accusing the U.S. of escalating economic tensions. He stated that the new sanctions are just another attempt to reinforce a blockade against Cuba.
Rubio’s warning impacts not just the sanctioned organizations but suggests a long-term strategy aimed at networks that could potentially support Cuba’s interests internationally, even post-Cold War. He noted, “Anyone providing services to sanctioned entities risks facing sanctions themselves. Foreign banks and other companies should halt their operations with these organizations.”
