Bruno Rodríguez Claims U.S. Aims to "Take Control" of Cuba Amid Trump and Rubio Warnings

The Cuban Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, has accused the United States of attempting to "destroy the constitutional order and take control of the country." His remarks on social media come after recent statements made by President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio concerning Cuba.

Rodríguez Parrilla stated on his social media platforms that "the U.S. threatens Cuba with destroying its constitutional order and seizing control of the nation."

In the same post, he condemned the "collective punishment imposed on Cubans," asserting that it won't undermine "the full exercise of sovereignty nor creativity in the face of the blockade and energy siege." He warned that "any imperial aggression will meet the unyielding resolve of the Cuban people to defend their homeland's independence."

These remarks are part of the Cuban leadership's response to a series of pronouncements made earlier in the week from Washington.

From the White House, Donald Trump labeled Cuba a "failed nation" and suggested that he could take control of it. "If I liberate it, I take it. I think I can do whatever I want with it," Trump said on Monday. He also described the island as a resource-poor territory: "They have no money, no oil, nothing."

The following day, Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed that the Cuban economy "does not work" and has survived due to external subsidies.

"They need to put new people in charge. They must enact drastic changes," Rubio stated, advocating for significant transformations in the country's leadership. Simultaneously, Trump expressed support for ongoing contacts and assured that they would "do something very soon" regarding Cuba.

Reacting to these declarations, Miguel Díaz-Canel responded with a message accusing the United States of threatening "almost daily" to overthrow Cuba's constitutional order.

In his statement, Díaz-Canel argued that Washington aims to "seize the country, its resources, properties, and even the very economy they seek to strangle to make us surrender," describing the embargo as a "fierce economic war" implemented as "collective punishment against the entire population."

These exchanges come just days after Díaz-Canel publicly acknowledged, on March 13, that talks were underway between the two governments, following weeks of official denials.

He explained that these discussions represent an "initial phase" aimed at "identifying the most serious bilateral issues, seeking solutions, and gauging both sides' willingness."

Since then, the official rhetoric has mixed acknowledgment of these contacts with increasingly harsh tones toward Washington. Díaz-Canel later asserted that Cuba "will not accept impositions" nor negotiate "its sovereignty or constitutional order," accusing the United States of acting from a "weakened" position.

In this context, Rodríguez Parrilla's message reinforces this response line, at a time when Washington has publicly suggested possible conditions for advancing an agreement, including references to changes in Cuban leadership.

The verbal escalation coincides with a particularly complex internal situation. Cuba faces a severe energy crisis, with prolonged blackouts and fuel shortages, amid an economic downturn that has heightened social discontent.

Thus, while channels of contact remain open between both governments, public statements reflect an increase in political tension, with direct accusations from Havana in response to warnings issued from Washington.