US President Donald Trump has extended for another year an order authorizing the detention and inspection of both American and foreign vessels en route to Cuba, according to a notice published in the Federal Register.
The order, initially signed in 1996 by President Bill Clinton after Cuba shot down two planes belonging to the Miami-based emigrant organization Brothers to the Rescue, gives the United States broad powers to monitor maritime activity near the island.
In the Federal Register, the White House cited continued concerns over Cuba’s conduct, stating, “The Cuban government has not demonstrated that it will refrain from the use of excessive force against United States vessels or aircraft that may engage in memorial activities or peaceful protest north of Cuba.
“Further, the unauthorized entry of any United States-registered vessel into Cuban territorial waters continues to be detrimental to the foreign policy of the United States because such entry could facilitate a mass migration from Cuba.”
The document emphasizes that Washington views a potential mass migration from Cuba as a national security concern, warning it could disturb international relations and endanger US security.
Trump’s extension also continues the national emergency regarding Cuba, which provides the legal framework for the detention of ships traveling to the island. The order has been renewed multiple times since its inception, with notable amendments in 2004 prohibiting financial and material support to Cuba, and further expansions in 2016 and 2018.
On January 29, the Trump administration also signed a decree allowing Washington to impose duties on goods supplied to Cuba by other countries, effectively formalizing a state of emergency over what it views as threats from Havana.
Cuban officials condemned the measures, with Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla describing them as a threat of a “total blockade of fuel supplies,” a violation of international trade principles, and a creation of “extreme conditions” for ordinary Cubans.
The United States said it was working with Havana on the energy blockade, indicating that the two countries were close to reaching an agreement on the matter.
The renewed order comes amid ongoing tensions between Washington and Havana, reflecting longstanding US concerns over Cuban migration, maritime security, and the island’s role in regional politics.
