Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has issued a stern warning regarding potential military actions by the United States against his country, suggesting such moves could result in a “bloodbath” with unpredictable consequences for regional peace and stability. Díaz-Canel emphasized that Cuba poses no threat to other nations in a recent statement shared on social media.
This warning follows a report indicating that Cuba has allegedly acquired over 300 military drones with plans to potentially target the US naval base at Guantánamo Bay, along with US military vessels and Key West, Florida. The report, which cites classified intelligence, has heightened tensions between the two nations.
In further comments, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez defended the nation’s right to self-defense, citing the UN charter and international law. Rodriguez argued that Cuba, like any sovereign nation, has the right to protect itself from external threats and accused those aiming to attack Cuba of using false pretexts to justify their actions.
The relationship between the US and Cuba, historically fraught due to longstanding ideological conflicts, has become increasingly strained, particularly following the US decision to cut off energy supplies to Cuba after the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January. This has exacerbated Cuba’s energy crisis, with fuel shortages and limited electricity supply plaguing the island.
Adding to the rising tensions, US prosecutors have reportedly moved to indict former Cuban leader Raúl Castro over the 1996 incident involving the downing of two planes operated by the humanitarian group Brothers to the Rescue. This potential indictment marks a significant escalation in US pressure on Cuba, aligning with the Trump administration’s critical stance towards the Cuban government, which it has labeled as corrupt and incompetent.