Cuba Would 'Be Naive' Not to Ready Military Against Trump Threats, Official States
A senior Cuban official has declared that the country is actively preparing its military forces in response to escalating threats from former President Donald Trump, warning that it would be "naive" not to do so given the current global climate. Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio emphasized that Cuba's armed forces are on alert for potential military aggression as Trump intensifies economic pressure on Havana.
Military Preparations Underway Amid Rising Tensions
In an interview aired on NBC's Meet the Press, de Cossio revealed that Cuba's military is "preparing these days for the possibility of military aggression." He stated, "Our military is always prepared. And in fact it is preparing these days for the possibility of military aggression. We would be naive if, looking at what's happening around the world, we would not do that. But we truly hope that it doesn't occur." While he declined to specify the exact nature of these preparations, his comments align with Cuba's defiant stance against Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio's heightened rhetoric.
Economic Pressure and Energy Crisis Worsen
The military alert comes as Cuba faces severe economic challenges exacerbated by U.S. sanctions, including a de facto fuel blockade that has crippled the island's energy supply. This has led to multiple nationwide blackouts, with another complete power outage reported over the weekend, marking at least the sixth such incident in approximately a year. De Cossio described the fuel squeeze as "very severe" and expressed hope that the U.S.-imposed boycott would not last indefinitely, asserting that Cuba is "being as creative as possible" to cope but is "not in a state of collapse."
Political Stalemate and Negotiation Limits
Despite confirming talks with the U.S., Cuba has maintained a firm position on political autonomy. The government has released a small number of political prisoners and offered economic openings to Cubans abroad, but de Cossio made it clear that U.S.-dictated political changes and discussions about prisoners are off the table. He emphasized, "The nature of the Cuban government, the structure of the Cuban government, and the members of the Cuban government are not part of the negotiation." Rubio has criticized these offers as insufficient, highlighting the ongoing diplomatic impasse.
The situation underscores the deepening tensions between Cuba and the U.S., with military readiness becoming a focal point as economic hardships mount. As de Cossio noted, Cuba remains open for business but steadfast in its sovereignty, even as it braces for potential conflict in an increasingly volatile international landscape.
