President Miguel Díaz-Canel of Cuba has issued a stern warning about the potential consequences of any military action by the United States against his country, suggesting it could lead to a “bloodbath” and destabilize regional peace. In a statement shared on X, Díaz-Canel emphasized that Cuba poses no threat to the United States, directly addressing rising tensions between the two nations.
The remarks came in response to a recent report indicating that Cuba has acquired over 300 military drones and allegedly discussed plans to deploy them against the US naval base at Guantánamo Bay, as well as targets in Key West, Florida. These allegations have added to the already heightened tensions, which have seen a significant deterioration in the bilateral relationship.
Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez also weighed in, asserting that the nation maintains the right to self-defense against external threats, as outlined in the UN charter and international law. Rodriguez accused those advocating military action against Cuba of fabricating false pretexts to justify aggression.
The strained relations have been exacerbated by the United States’ decision to cut off energy supplies to Cuba, following the arrest of Venezuela’s president, a key ally of Cuba, in January. The island has faced severe energy shortages, with fuel supplies dwindling and electricity often limited to just a couple of hours per day.
Recent developments have further strained ties, with reports suggesting that US prosecutors are considering indicting former Cuban leader Raúl Castro over the 1996 incident involving the downing of two planes operated by Brothers to the Rescue, a humanitarian organization. At 94, an indictment of Castro would represent a significant escalation of pressure from the Trump administration, which has been critical of Cuba’s government, branding it as corrupt and incompetent while calling for change.