SouthernWorldwide.com – U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has issued a stern warning to American organizations, stating they can no longer engage in business with a prominent Cuban entity that has cultivated relationships with U.S. activists and groups for over six decades, many of which are now financed by communist American tycoon Neville Roy Singham.
The sanctions specifically target the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples, known by its Spanish acronym ICAP. Founded by Fidel Castro in 1960, ICAP’s original purpose was to disseminate Marxist ideology and garner support for Cuba.
U.S. officials and intelligence assessments have long identified ICAP as a critical component of Cuba’s intelligence apparatus. Rubio emphasized this point, stating, “For decades, Cuba has been the world capital for radical left-wing terrorism.” He further elaborated that “The regime in Havana has recruited, trained and backed violent Marxist and third-worldist movements across our hemisphere and beyond.”
This year, ICAP collaborated with U.S. non-profits, including the People’s Forum, Progressive International, and CodePink, to organize a “convoy” event. This event notably saw controversial Marxist streamer Hasan Piker travel to Cuba in support of the country’s communist party.
The trip has since attracted federal scrutiny. Medea Benjamin, a co-founder of CodePink, confirmed that she has been questioned by federal officials regarding the trip, with investigations focusing on potential violations of sanctions.
Rubio articulated the administration’s objective: “Today, we are targeting the network that enables and funds Cuba’s subversive and radical operations.”
Among the groups working closely with ICAP are the People’s Forum, CodePink, BreakThrough News, and Tricontinental. These organizations are funded by Neville Roy Singham, a Marxist tech tycoon residing in Shanghai. Reports indicate that Singham has channeled $285 million into these non-profits since 2017, fostering close ties with ICAP and the Cuban communist government.
Notably, Neville Roy Singham is married to Jodie Evans, a co-founder of CodePink.
ICAP is currently led by Fernando González Llort, one of the “Cuban Five,” a group of former Cuban intelligence officers convicted in the U.S. on espionage-related charges. Critics contend that ICAP serves as a conduit for revolutionaries globally, facilitating their integration into the propaganda, organizing tactics, and strategic objectives of the Communist Party of Cuba. ICAP, however, denies any wrongdoing, asserting its status as a civil society organization.
ICAP is one of five entities designated by Rubio as off-limits under sanctions authorities established by President Donald Trump’s Cuba executive order. The sanctions also extend to Cuba’s Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (MINFAR), the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR), Minera La Victoria S.A., and the state-run tourism company Amistur Cuba S.A., which has facilitated trips to Cuba for U.S. non-profits within the Singham network.
Experts suggest this move signifies the Trump administration’s focus not only on the Cuban government but also on U.S. institutions believed to be instrumental in projecting Cuban influence internationally.
A declassified CIA report from the Cold War era, titled “Cuba: Castro’s Propaganda Apparatus and Foreign Policy,” detailed Cuba’s international propaganda and influence activities as a cornerstone of Castro’s foreign policy. The report identified ICAP as a key instrument for cultivating sympathetic political movements abroad and expanding Cuban influence beyond the island.
The Venceremos Brigade, a Cuba solidarity program established in 1969, stands out as a significant example. This program facilitated exchanges for generations of American activists to visit Cuba, with arrangements often made through Cuban authorities and institutions, including ICAP.
The Venceremos Brigade evolved into one of the most prominent channels connecting American activists with the Cuban revolutionary government.
Currently, the Venceremos Brigade operates as a fiscally-sponsored project under the People’s Forum.
Lawmakers and federal authorities are scrutinizing whether organizations funded by Singham have acted on behalf of foreign interests without proper registration, and if they have amplified messaging favorable to the Chinese Communist Party and the Communist Party of Cuba.
During the recent March convoy, David Adler, co-founder of Progressive International, appeared alongside Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel and ICAP President González at an official event hosted by ICAP.
In the past, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass participated in Venceremos Brigade trips, a connection that was brought up during her mayoral campaign by candidate Spencer Pratt. Bass has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Proponents of these exchanges characterize them as educational and humanitarian initiatives aimed at fostering international understanding. Conversely, critics argue that these programs function as political influence operations designed to garner support for the Cuban regime and its ideological objectives.
The Cuban government issued a strong condemnation of Rubio’s sanctions shortly after their announcement. President Miguel Díaz-Canel accused the United States of intensifying economic pressure against Cuba and attempting to escalate tensions between the two nations.
Díaz-Canel stated on social media, “The Treasury Department has added new names of Cuban leaders, organizations and companies to an illegitimate sanctions list. They are aimed at reinforcing the blockade measures and the scenario of conflict between Cuba and the United States.”
Rubio’s warning extended beyond the entities directly sanctioned. The action signals a growing focus by the administration on networks, partnerships, and influence channels that U.S. officials believe have been instrumental in advancing Cuban interests abroad, even long after the Cold War’s official end.
“Anyone providing services to these sanctioned actors is at risk of sanctions themselves,” Rubio stated. He added, “Foreign banks and other companies that provide services to these entities should freeze those activities.”
