U.S. imposes sanctions on Brazilian and PAHO officials

Washington.- The U.S. State Department announced on Wednesday that it has revoked visas and imposed restrictions on several Brazilian officials, former Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) representatives, and their relatives, citing alleged complicity with the Cuban government in the “Mais Médicos” program. Washington describes the initiative as a form of “coercive labor export” that exploits Cuban medical personnel.

Those sanctioned include Brazilians Mozart Julio Tabosa Sales and Alberto Kleiman, who held positions in the Ministry of Health during the program’s operation. According to the U.S., they helped plan and implement the scheme, using PAHO as an intermediary to bypass Brazilian constitutional requirements, evade U.S. sanctions, and channel payments to the Cuban government instead of the medical workers. The State Department noted that dozens of Cuban doctors reported being exploited through the program.

The announcement coincided with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva rejecting reciprocal tariffs on the U.S., calling instead for BRICS unity against what he sees as politically motivated U.S. trade policies. Lula also dismissed a U.S. report claiming Brazil’s human rights situation worsened in 2024, accusing Washington of demonizing its opponents. Meanwhile, Senator Marco Rubio revealed new sanctions targeting Cuba, Grenada, and several African nations under similar accusations.