US sanctions Cuba’s military representative in Beijing over China procurement
Measures target officials and firms accused of obtaining military equipment from China and Russia for Cuba’s armed forces
The United States sanctioned Cuba’s senior military representative in Beijing on Thursday, accusing him of helping procure military-related equipment from China for the island’s armed forces.
Waldo Perez Cortes, Cuba’s military, naval and air attache in Beijing, was among six Cuban nationals and five entities added to the US Treasury Department’s Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons list.
The US State Department said Perez Cortes was an official of Cuba’s Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, known as MINFAR, who had been “involved in the procurement of military-related equipment from China to Cuba”.
It did not identify the equipment, Chinese suppliers or transactions allegedly involved.
Cuban state news agency Prensa Latina has identified Perez Cortes as a senior colonel serving as Cuba’s military, naval and air attache in Beijing.
Perez Cortes has appeared publicly alongside senior officers from China’s People’s Liberation Army and spoken about Beijing’s support for Cuba’s defence capabilities.