A Senior State Department official said that United States citizens and companies that have claimed to Cuban property will be allowed soon to file a case against Cuban entities. Foreign firms that operate in the island are excluded from any lawsuits since they are currently protected with the partial suspension of Title III of the Liberated Act.
Americans are allowed to bring a lawsuit if they haven't received payment from the Cuban government after their properties and assets were seized in the 1959 Cuban revolution because the suspension of the Title III is not fully implemented.
The United States claimants can file their suits against Cuban entities starting on March 19 to the United States federal courts. The United States has been waving the Title III of the Act every year since1996 to prevent the flood of lawsuits filed against businesses that include hotel chains, cruise-ship companies and airlines that operate Cuba.
The official said that Mike Pompeo, the United States' secretary of state, decided against lawsuits that hit the European countries that have business operations in Cuba. He, however, said that they are reviewing their decision to exclude foreign investors after 30 days.
The official said that the United States will encourage its international partners to hold Cuba accountable for supporting the Maduro regime in Venezuela. The United States has been encouraging its allies not to honor the regime of the current Venezuelan president as it supports the opposition leader. The suspension of Title III of the Liberated Act is seen by critics as a move of the United States to further pressure the countries with operations in Cuba to support the United States cause against Venezuela. The companies that might face charges this month are listed on the State Department's Cuba Restricted List. Entities listed will be under the authority of the Cuban military, intelligence, and security forces.
The United States- Cuba Business Council released a statement earlier Monday that the foreign businesses are likely included in the decision.
Bruno Rodriguez, Cuba's Foreign Minister said that he strongly rejects the United States action against Cuban companies that are "arbitrarily sanctioned" by the Trump Administration. He said on his twitter that the 30-day waiver for other cases amounted to an unacceptable threat against the world.
He added that the decision today adds obstacles to their development and economic goals, but the United States will continue to fail in its central aim of subjecting the sovereign will of Cubans by force.
