The measure is part of Washington’s latest efforts to squeeze the Cuban economy and force a change of government in Havana. It comes on top of an already tense situation, as Cuba struggles with declining Venezuelan support. Just one year into Miguel Diaz-Canel’s presidency, austerity measures and power cuts threaten a return to the crisis years that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s.
Government discourse will shift from the hopeful prospects of ‘socialism with prosperity’ to calls for resistance and sacrifice.
Additional sanctions curtailing remittances and US tourism as well as increasing arrears on trade debts will further damage the economy.
News of supply shortages and increased daily hardships for Cubans will harm Cuba’s attractiveness as a tourist destination.
European and Canadian protestations against Title III will do little to stop claimants or the US government.
