Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has asserted that his nation is prepared to resist any potential aggression from the United States, following remarks made by former President Donald Trump suggesting military action against Cuba.
Díaz-Canel expressed his concerns in a post on social media platform X, where he criticized the U.S. for what he described as daily threats to undermine Cuba’s constitutional order. He pointed to the long-standing economic sanctions imposed by the U.S., which he claims have weakened the Cuban economy for over six decades.
“The U.S. publicly announces plans to seize Cuba, its resources, and even its economy, which they aim to suffocate in order to force the country to capitulate,”
he wrote. The president characterized the U.S. economic strategy as a form of collective punishment against the Cuban populace.
“In the worst-case scenario, Cuba is confident of one thing: any external aggressor will face insurmountable resistance,”
he added, emphasizing the nation’s resolve in the face of threats.
Trump’s remarks on March 16 during a speech in the Oval Office labeled Cuba as a “very weakened nation” and expressed his desire to “take Cuba.” He stated,
“You know, I’ve heard about the United States and Cuba my entire life. When will the United States do this? I truly believe I will have the honor of taking Cuba. It will be good,”
he remarked.
When pressed by a journalist for clarification on the term “take,” Trump elaborated,
“To take Cuba in one form or another. I mean, whether I liberate it or take it over — I think I can do whatever I want with it,”
indicating a dismissive attitude toward Cuban sovereignty.
Trump also mentioned ongoing dialogues between the U.S. and Cuban authorities, asserting that Cuba is a failed state lacking essential resources.
“I can say they are talking to us. This is a country that has failed; they have no oil, they have nothing,”
he stated.
On January 30, Trump declared a national emergency concerning Cuba, citing the Cuban government’s actions 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 has countered these claims, asserting that the U.S. poses a threat to its sovereignty and has declared an international state of emergency in response.
On March 6, Trump predicted that the Cuban government would soon collapse and expressed a desire to negotiate with them. He has also proposed appointing U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio as a special envoy to Cuba.
Trump’s agenda includes the removal of the communist regime in Cuba, which he accuses of terrorism and drug trafficking to the U.S., as well as fostering anti-American sentiment in the region.
On March 10, he stated that Cuba’s leadership faced two options: accept a change in power with U.S. support or resist, with the implication that the outcome would be the same for the country.
“This could be a friendly takeover. Or it may not be friendly. It doesn’t matter because they are already on their last breath. They have no energy. They have no money,”
Trump claimed, highlighting the severe economic and humanitarian crisis facing the island nation.
He also noted that Cuban officials had reached out to the U.S. regarding their dire economic situation, suggesting that discussions between Washington and Havana are ongoing.
In response to these developments, Senate Democrats introduced a resolution on March 13 aimed at restricting Trump from using military force against Cuba without prior Congressional approval.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has vowed to resist potential U.S. aggression following Donald Trump's provocative remarks about Cuba. Amid escalating tensions, both nations are engaged in discussions regarding Cuba's economic crisis and U.S. military threats.