HAVANA (AP) — Cuba is preparing for a potential, though unlikely, military confrontation with the United States, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio. The statement comes amid escalating tensions with Washington and increasingly bellicose rhetoric from President Donald Trump, who has openly discussed the possibility of U.S. intervention on the island.
De Cossio told NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday that while Cuba does not anticipate a military engagement, “we would be naive if we do not prepare.” He emphasized that Havana sees no justification for such action.
The comments follow Trump’s assertion last week that he expects to have “the honour” of taking Cuba, a statement that has heightened concerns about the future of the Communist-run nation. The U.S. has already significantly crippled trade with Cuba through an oil blockade, pushing the country deeper into economic crisis. Talks between Havana and Washington began earlier this month, but de Cossio stated that any suggestion the Cuban government or its structure is up for negotiation is false.
“A regime change is absolutely off the table,” he said.
Despite the heightened tensions, the top U.S. general overseeing forces in Latin America told lawmakers Thursday that the military is not actively preparing for an invasion or military takeover of Cuba.
The Trump administration signaled its intent to strengthen policy toward Cuba in June 2025 with a National Security Presidential Memorandum. In January 2026, a presidential action declared the Cuban government an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to the United States. The administration’s actions echo similar pressures applied in the past, as seen in a 2026 AP report detailing the crippling of trade with Cuba and threats to the Communist Party regime.