Trump Cuba policy mirrors Venezuela approach with notable distinctions

The Trump administration restored Cuba's state sponsor of terrorism designation after President Biden briefly removed it, returning Havana to a sanctions posture last seen at the close of the first Trump term. Cuba has faced a U.S. embargo for more than six decades, while Venezuela became the focus of a distinct and more recent American pressure campaign beginning around 2017, intensifying as the Maduro government disputed electoral results. The Venezuela strategy at its peak included Washington's recognition of opposition figure Juan Guaidó as interim president and coordinated action with allied governments - a multilateral approach that has not been replicated in the Cuba context. Analysts note that Cuba's isolation from global financial systems is already extensive, which may limit the marginal impact of additional measures compared to the Venezuela case.