United States Sanctions Cuban Attache for China Military Procurement

The United States Department of the Treasury sanctioned Waldo Perez Cortes, a senior colonel and Cuba's military, naval, and air attache in Beijing, on Thursday. The Treasury Department added Perez Cortes, along with five other Cuban nationals and five entities, to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons list.

According to the United States Department of State, the sanctions target officials and firms accused of procuring military-related equipment from China and Russia for Cuba's Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces. The measures specifically address the role of Perez Cortes in facilitating these acquisitions from Chinese suppliers.

The United States government did not disclose the specific types of equipment involved, the identities of the Chinese suppliers, or the details of the transactions associated with the procurement activities.