President Donald Trump ordered his administration to ramp up efforts to bring down the government in Cuba. The policy calls for tightening sanctions and programs. 

President Donald Trump issued the memo to his administration on Monday that instructed the strengthening of the hostile policy against Cuba. The approach calls for tighter enforcement of existing sanctions and travel restrictions against the Caribbean nation. 

In addition, Washington will step up its considerable efforts to undermine the government by funding programs that ostensibly promote democracy. However, similar programs have been used by the US around the globe to complete regime change operations. 

The memo states, “My Administration’s policy will be guided by the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States, as well as solidarity with the Cuban people.  I will seek to promote a stable, prosperous, and free country for the Cuban people.”

Trump attempts to justify the policy by claiming that Havana crushes political dissidents. “In Cuba, dissidents and peaceful protesters are arbitrarily detained and held in terrible prison conditions,” the memo explains. 

However, the Trump administration has engaged in a similar political crackdown in the US. Since taking office, Trump’s government has rounded up pro-Palestinian activists, and attempted to remove their citizenship to expel them from the country. 

The US has maintained an embargo against Cuba since 1958. President Barack Obama eased the blockade of Cuba near the end of his second term. During Trump’s first term, he rolled back Obama’s policy.