Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has said the country is prepared to face “any threat” from the United States, warning that Cuba will not remain a passive observer amid rising tensions.
The remarks come as Cuba faces a severe economic crunch, with power cuts and fuel shortages reported after the United States blocked crude oil supplies from Venezuela to Cuba. The report also notes that Washington has linked the lifting of restrictions to a demand that Díaz-Canel be removed from office.
Former US President Donald Trump was quoted as saying Cuba is in a “major disaster” and that the United States could “easily” free or bring the country under its influence, drawing comparisons to US actions aimed at changing the government in Venezuela.
Díaz-Canel said any attempt to attack or occupy Cuba would be met with a strong response. Separately, Cuba’s Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío said the country’s political system and the positions of its leaders are not subjects for negotiation with the United States.
