Cuba Prepares for Potential U.S. Attack Amid Trump’s Threats, Leader States
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said Thursday his government will be ready for a possible attack from the United States. The remark came as President Trump’s rhetoric toward the island has intensified.
Tensions and escalating rhetoric
Earlier this week, Trump said his administration could turn its attention to Cuba after the war in Iran ends. He called the island a “failing nation” and said it had been poorly run for decades. At one point he added, “We may stop by Cuba after we finish with this.”
Trump has also threatened intervention following the U.S. military’s reported capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January. His language grew sharper after recent U.S. strikes in Iran, according to reports.
Statements from Havana
The leader states that Cuba prepares for a potential U.S. attack amid Trump’s threats. Díaz-Canel spoke at a rally on April 16, 2026, marking the 65th anniversary of a historic Fidel Castro speech.
He said Cuba does not seek military conflict. But he insisted the nation must be ready to confront serious threats and, if necessary, defend itself.
Besiegement and accusations
Díaz-Canel described Cuba as a besieged state under “multidimensional aggression.” He named economic warfare, an intensified blockade, and an energy blockade as key pressures.
He rejected U.S. portrayals of a failed state. Díaz-Canel argued Cuba resists, creates, and will prevail thanks to its socialist system.
Economic strain and humanitarian warnings
Officials say an oil embargo imposed by the U.S. has worsened conditions already strained by a five-year economic crisis. That downturn began during the COVID-19 pandemic and deepened with tightened U.S. sanctions.
Measures blocking oil from Venezuelan, Mexican, and Russian suppliers have helped trigger prolonged blackouts and fuel shortages. Experts have warned these trends could produce a humanitarian crisis.
Díaz-Canel highlighted social gains from the revolution, including free education that trained thousands of professionals. He lamented that many of those professionals have emigrated amid the crisis.
Diplomacy and international pressure
Washington has also threatened tariffs on countries that sell or provide oil to Cuba. Both President Trump and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio have publicly criticized Cuba’s government.
Rubio, whose parents left Cuba in the 1950s, has called the island’s leadership ineffective and abusive. Cuban officials say such rhetoric constructs an unfounded narrative.
Cuba and the United States have acknowledged talks aimed at reducing tensions. Neither side has released details about those discussions.
Photo credit: Ramon Espinosa / AP. Report contribution: Caitlin Yilek. This story is published on Filmogaz.com.
