The communist government in Cuba deceived the Biden administration into funding its military through a company that handles money sent from abroad. This information was reported by El Nuevo Herald. The Cuban government set up a new "independent" company in 2022 to manage remittances sent via Western Union and other services. However, this company is actually controlled by the Cuban military, allowing the regime to avoid sanctions put in place by President Trump in 2020.
Cuba's government has tight control over remittances and tourism, which are crucial for its finances and oppressive actions against its citizens. Reports indicate that by 2020, the government took over 74% of every dollar sent to individuals in Cuba through remittances, amassing around $46. 8 billion from remittances between 1993 and 2020. This revenue is also redirected to developing hotels and supporting tourism, which feeds back into the military-controlled economy.
During Trump’s first term, the U. S. imposed limits on remittances to lessen cash flow to the Cuban regime and put sanctions on a military-linked company responsible for processing these payments. The Cuban government condemned these sanctions, labeling them as disrespect for the Cuban people. Although the restrictions were reversed under Biden in 2022, the sanctions on the military-owned company remained.
El Nuevo Herald reported that the newly created company, called Orbit S. A. , claimed to be independent and unrelated to the military but received approval from the Biden administration to process remittances. In truth, Orbit S. A. is run by Cimex, a military subsidiary. According to leaked documents, Cimex manages the financial operations and reports to the military holding company that oversees it.
Cimex is also responsible for the sanctioned company FINCIMEX and provides monthly reports to the military leadership. Orbit S. A. is located near FINCIMEX offices and employs the same staff. The director of Orbit S. A. has a history with the military-associated Cimex.
Experts, including Emilio Morales from the Cuba Siglo 21 think tank, mentioned that the Biden administration was warned about the reality behind Orbit S. A. but chose to proceed anyway. Florida Rep. María Elvira Salazar criticized this decision, stating that the Castro regime's approach to siphoning money from Cuban exiles had been revealed again through schemes connected to military businesses in Cuba.
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