José Daniel Ferrer, a prominent Cuban opposition leader, arrived at Madrid-Barajas Airport on Saturday, embarking on a month-long tour across over ten European nations. However, upon connecting to the internet, he was met with startling remarks from Donald Trump about potentially taking control of Cuba, prompting him to nearly abandon his plans and head back.
"I was alarmed. So much so that I thought I should book a ticket back to the United States, to Miami, to be as close to Havana as possible," Ferrer expressed in a video recorded right at the airport.
On Friday night in West Palm Beach, President Donald Trump had declared that once operations in Iran concluded, the United States would take over Cuba. He went as far as to threaten the deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier to Cuban shores to pressure the regime into submission.
Ferrer, continuing to read on, discovered Trump's conditions: the priority was first dealing with Iran. "I kept reading, and it says Donald Trump will act after Iran, so I think I can carry on or at least begin my European tour," he explained with a mix of relief and humor.
Exiled to the United States in October 2025, Ferrer expressed his gratitude towards President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for their "steadfast and correct policy against a criminal tyranny that opposes freedom, democracy, human rights, market economy, and the core values of the Western world."
At the airport, Ferrer reunited with Javier Larrondo, founder and president of Prisoners Defenders, whom he hadn't seen in person for nearly a decade. Together, they plan to engage with governments, parliaments, and human rights organizations throughout Europe.
The tour's main goal is to align Europe with the needs and desires of the Cuban people. "Freedom for political prisoners, freedom for Cuba, that is the key to everything we do in Europe," Ferrer emphasized.
This visit coincides with heightened pressure from Washington on Havana. On the same Friday, Trump signed a new executive order expanding sanctions against the regime, targeting Cuban officials' assets in the energy, defense, mining, and finance sectors, and imposing secondary sanctions on foreign banks aiding sanctioned individuals.
Since January 2026, the Trump administration has enacted over 240 sanctions and intercepted at least seven oil tankers bound for Cuba, slashing the country's energy imports by 80% to 90% and resulting in power outages lasting up to 25 hours daily in more than 55% of the territory.
Ferrer was forcibly exiled to Miami in October 2025 after enduring decades of persecution by the regime. Since then, he has remained politically active, receiving standing ovations in the Florida Congress alongside other Cuban dissidents just last Tuesday.
Prisoners Defenders, Larrondo's organization, currently reports a historic high of over 1,250 political prisoners in Cuba, with 467 suffering severe illnesses due to mistreatment as of the end of March.
"I hope we don't have time for our mission. I hope we have to return immediately," Ferrer remarked regarding the possibility of Trump acting before the European tour concludes.
Key Insights on U.S.-Cuba Relations and Political Dynamics
What prompted José Daniel Ferrer to consider returning to the Americas?
Ferrer considered returning due to Donald Trump's remarks about potentially taking control of Cuba after dealing with Iran, which made him feel he needed to be closer to Havana.
What action did Trump threaten regarding Cuba?
Trump threatened to deploy the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier to Cuban shores to pressure the regime into submission once operations in Iran were concluded.
What is the purpose of Ferrer's European tour?
The European tour aims to align Europe with the Cuban people's needs and desires, emphasizing the freedom of political prisoners and overall freedom for Cuba.