PRESIDENT TRUMP ISSUES NATIONAL SECURITY MEMO ON CUBA
August 22, 2025
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On June 30, 2025, President Trump released National Security Presidential Memorandum-5 (“NSPM-5”) titled “Reissuance of and Amendments to National Security Presidential Memorandum 5 on Strengthening the Policy of the United States Toward Cuba.” NSPM-5 is a word for word reissuance (with two amendments) of the Presidential Memorandum “Strengthening the Policy of the United States Toward Cuba” issued in 2017 during President Trump’s first term which outlined his administration’s policies towards Cuba. The amendments to the prior Presidential Memorandum are as follows:
- NSPM-5 directs the Secretary of State to include on the “Restricted Entities List” those that “are under the control of, or act for or on behalf of, or for the benefit of, the Cuban military, intelligence, or security services”. The previous Presidential Memorandum only required those “under the control of, or act for or on behalf of the Cuban military” to be placed on the Restricted Entities List whereas NSPM-5 now expands the scope to include those that act “for the benefit of” the Cuban military.
- NSPM-5 now includes within the prohibition of financial transactions with entities on the Restricted Entities List to include “indirect” transactions (previously only prohibited “direct” transactions).
At this time, about a dozen hotels have been added to the Restricted Entities List, but no major changes have yet taken place as a result of NSPM-5. Taken together, NSPM-5 mostly reiterates current policies regarding sanctions and travel restrictions on Cuba but does appear to signal what could be a refocused effort by this administration to further tighten restrictions on travel to Cuba as well as the Cuban economy.
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