The Cuban Ministry of Revolutionary Armed Forces (MINFAR) has recently sparked heightened concerns with a series of bellicose messages posted on Facebook, further escalating the regime's rhetoric during a period of intense tension with Washington.
In one of the posts, MINFAR quoted Fidel Castro, stating, "The order to ceasefire will never be given, especially when it means surrendering to the enemy," paired with an image depicting a missile launch.
Another post from the ministry declared, "War can only end with victory or death, and for Cuba, there is no alternative but victory, whatever the cost," featuring a photograph of a soldier aiming a sniper rifle.
These posts are part of a sustained propaganda campaign by MINFAR, intensifying weekly since the regime designated 2026 as the "Year of Defense Preparation."
This isn’t the first time MINFAR has used the ceasefire phrase. Back on February 14, the Central Army echoed this sentiment, adding that "surrender would be the greatest catastrophe in history," and that "it is better to die than to be captured."
The immediate backdrop for this escalation is the increasing pressure from the Trump administration. On May 1, the U.S. president signed an executive order expanding sanctions against the regime in sectors like energy, defense, mining, and finance, bringing the total to over 240 sanctions since January.
President Trump has also stated that the U.S. could "take control of Cuba almost immediately" and noted the deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln off the coast of Havana.
In a recent interview with Salem News Channel, Trump expressed that "it would be an honor to liberate Cuba," according to reports of his latest comments on the island.
On Sunday, Miguel Díaz-Canel warned delegates from 36 countries in Havana about the "imminence of a military aggression" by the U.S., and the previous Saturday, he declared on Facebook, "No aggressor, no matter how powerful, will find surrender in Cuba."
The warlike rhetoric stands in stark contrast to the harsh realities faced by the Cuban people, who endure power outages lasting up to 20 hours a day, severe shortages of food, fuel, and medicine, and a migratory exodus leaving the island devoid of its young population. Meanwhile, the National Defense Council, led by Raúl Castro, approved plans for a "State of War" back in January.
Key Concerns About Cuba's Military Rhetoric and U.S. Tensions
What has the Cuban Ministry of Revolutionary Armed Forces recently declared?
The Cuban Ministry recently declared that a ceasefire order will never be given, emphasizing their stance against surrendering to enemies.
How has the U.S. responded to Cuba's military stance?
In response, President Trump has expanded sanctions against Cuba and indicated the readiness of the U.S. to take control, deploying the USS Abraham Lincoln near Havana.
What challenges are currently facing the Cuban population?
Cubans are dealing with extensive power outages, severe shortages of essential goods, and a significant migration of the young population from the island.