HAVANA – Cuba is preparing for a potential U.S. invasion, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio, following increasingly bellicose rhetoric from President Donald Trump. The escalating tensions come as Cuba grapples with a severe economic crisis fueled by a U.S. oil blockade imposed in January.
Speaking to NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday, Fernandez de Cossio stated that Cuba “has historically been ready to mobilize as a nation as a whole for military aggression.” He emphasized that while an invasion isn’t considered probable, dismissing it as a possibility would be “naive.” He further asserted that any such invasion would be entirely unjustified.
The renewed threat from Washington follows Trump’s recent comments suggesting he could “take Cuba in some form” and his assertion that he could do “anything I want” with the Caribbean nation.
Havana has been engaged in talks with the U.S. in an attempt to de-escalate the situation, but Fernandez de Cossio indicated that a regime change is not on the table. He rejected reports suggesting Washington was seeking a deal offering trade concessions in exchange for the removal of Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel.
The island nation is currently facing widespread hardship. A recent nationwide blackout left nearly 11 million people without electricity, exacerbating existing power cuts and fuel shortages. These shortages stem from the disruption of Venezuelan oil shipments following the U.S. campaign against President Nicolas Maduro and broader efforts to restrict alternative suppliers.
Trump has justified the blockade by citing Cuba’s relationships with Russia, China, Iran, and groups supporting Palestinians. Cuban officials have condemned the pressure as a violation of international law.
The situation raises concerns about regional stability and the potential for further escalation in U.S.-Cuba relations, a dynamic already strained by decades of political and economic antagonism.
