Cuba’s Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío has expressed concerns over a possible military threat from the United States. In an interview with NBC News, he stated that the Cuban military is currently preparing for such an eventuality.
De Cossío emphasized that the Cuban leadership cannot afford to underestimate the risk of armed conflict, particularly in light of global developments. He remarked, “Our military is always ready, and in fact, they are preparing these days for the possibility of military aggression.” He added that while the country’s leaders hope for peace, they see no justification for the escalating tensions.
In addition to military concerns, de Cossío pointed to increasing economic pressures, particularly restrictions on oil supplies, as a form of aggression from the U.S. He noted that Cuba relies heavily on oil for electricity generation, leading to frequent blackouts, with three significant outages reported in March alone.
“What is happening today is that the U.S. threatens coercive measures against countries that might export fuel to Cuba, and that is why Cuba has long been unable to secure fuel. This is very serious, and we are doing everything we can to manage the situation. We hope that fuel will reach Cuba one way or another, and that this boycott imposed by the United States will not last forever,” de Cossío stated.
On March 18, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel reaffirmed the nation’s readiness to resist any potential U.S. attack, a sentiment echoed by U.S. President Donald Trump in previous statements.
Trump had declared a state of emergency regarding Cuba on January 30, citing actions by the Cuban government as a significant threat to U.S. national security and foreign policy. He accused Havana of supporting hostile nations and terrorist organizations, including Russia, China, Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah.
The Cuban government responded by asserting that the U.S. poses a threat to its sovereignty and declared an international state of emergency. On March 6, Trump claimed that the Cuban government would soon collapse and expressed a desire to negotiate directly with them, suggesting that he might appoint U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio as a representative in Cuba.
Trump’s administration has been vocal about its aim to dismantle the communist regime in Cuba, accusing it of terrorism and drug trafficking while fostering anti-American sentiments in the region. On March 10, Trump outlined two options for the Cuban leadership: accept a change of power with U.S. support or face inevitable consequences.
“This could be a friendly takeover. Or it might not be friendly. It doesn’t matter because they are already on their last breath. They have no energy. They have no money,” Trump remarked, highlighting the severe economic and humanitarian crisis facing Cuba.
Despite the tensions, Trump indicated that representatives from the Cuban government had reached out to the U.S. due to the dire economic situation, suggesting that some dialogue was occurring between Washington and Havana. On March 13, Senate Democrats introduced a resolution aimed at prohibiting Trump from using military force against Cuba without prior congressional approval.
During a speech in the Oval Office on March 16, Trump referred to Cuba as a “very weakened nation” and expressed his desire to “capture Cuba” in some form. When asked to clarify this statement, he explained, “Capturing Cuba in one way or another. I mean, whether I liberate it or capture it—I think I can do whatever I want with it.”
In response to these developments, President Díaz-Canel reiterated that the Cuban government acknowledges the possibility of an attack and is preparing to defend the nation.
Cuban officials are preparing for potential military aggression from the U.S., citing economic pressures and escalating tensions. President Díaz-Canel has vowed to defend the nation amid threats from the Trump administration.
Source: NBC News