Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has issued a stern warning that any potential U.S. military intervention against Cuba would result in a “bloodbath” with far-reaching implications for peace and stability in the region. This declaration came in response to a report suggesting that Cuba had acquired more than 300 military drones and was considering using them to target the U.S. naval base at Guantánamo Bay, U.S. military ships, and Key West, Florida.
Díaz-Canel emphasized that Cuba poses no threat, a sentiment he shared in a post on social media platform X. Echoing his remarks, Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez asserted that, in accordance with the UN charter and international law, Cuba retains the right to self-defense against external threats. Rodriguez further accused those aiming to attack Cuba of fabricating justifications for their actions.
Relations between the United States and Cuba, historically fraught, have become increasingly tense. This deterioration was exacerbated after the U.S. ceased its energy supply to Cuba following the arrest of Venezuela’s president, a Cuban ally, in January. These developments have severely strained Cuba’s resources, leading to critical shortages of fuel and severely limited electricity, often available for just a few hours daily.
Adding to the tensions, reports surfaced that U.S. prosecutors intend to indict former Cuban leader Raúl Castro for the downing of two planes in 1996, operated by the humanitarian organization Brothers to the Rescue. At 94, an indictment against Castro would signify a significant escalation by the Trump administration, which has persistently criticized Cuba’s government as corrupt and ineffective while advocating for political change on the island.