On Tuesday, Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel took to Facebook to issue another bold statement aimed at Washington. He dismissed the notion that Cuba poses a danger to the United States and concluded with a phrase encapsulating the regime's stance: "Cuba neither threatens nor fears."
His post, entitled "Cuba Is Threatened, Not a Threat," followed a day after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reaffirmed to Congress that the Pentagon considers the Cuban regime a national security threat, citing its ties with Russia and China, as well as the use of Cuban ports by Russian ships.
Díaz-Canel asserted that "in over six decades of socialist revolution, just ninety miles from the U.S., not a single offensive action against the national security of that country has originated from this territory." He claimed that Cuba has, in fact, aided Washington in maintaining security by combating various transnational crimes.
The Cuban president accused the Trump administration of hypocrisy, writing, "Labeling Cuba as a threat is, first and foremost, cynical." He described the American narrative as a "fabrication" intended to "further strangle the Cuban people and escalate to a conflict with unimaginable consequences for our nations and the region."
This declaration comes amidst the highest tension between Havana and Washington since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. On January 29, Trump signed Executive Order 14380, declaring Cuba an "unusual and extraordinary threat" to national security and imposing an energy embargo that slashed oil supplies by 80% to 90%.
On May 1, Trump expanded these sanctions with Executive Order 14404, targeting the energy, defense, mining, and financial sectors. That very day, in a private dinner in West Palm Beach, he stated that the U.S. would "take Cuba almost immediately" after completing operations in Iran.
Between May 5 and May 11, Trump repeatedly threatened to deploy the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier off Cuba's coast, even suggesting moving it "within 100 meters of the shore."
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced sanctions last Thursday against GAESA—the military conglomerate controlling between 40% and 70% of the Cuban economy—and 12 regime officials, branding the entity as "the heart of Cuba's kleptocratic communist system."
This is not the first time Díaz-Canel has adopted such a tone recently. On April 7, he warned in a Newsweek interview that Cuba would "fight and defend itself" against military aggression. On April 16, he compared the situation to the eve of the Bay of Pigs, urging readiness for serious threats. Last Monday, from the Anti-Imperialist Platform in front of the U.S. Embassy, he called on the American people to "view us with respect and affection."
Sources cited by AP last Thursday indicated that the U.S. does not plan immediate military action against Cuba despite Trump's threats, and the State Department sought to lower rhetorical tensions with Havana yesterday.
Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla had warned last Friday of a possible "bloodbath" and "unimaginable consequences" should the U.S. attack the island, in an ABC News interview that further heightened bilateral tension.
Frequently Asked Questions About U.S.-Cuba Tensions
What did Miguel Díaz-Canel say about Cuba's stance towards the U.S.?
Díaz-Canel stated that Cuba does not pose a threat to the U.S. and emphasized that while Cuba neither threatens nor fears, it has never engaged in offensive actions against U.S. national security.
Why does the Pentagon consider Cuba a national security threat?
The Pentagon considers Cuba a threat due to its alliances with Russia and China and the use of its ports by Russian naval vessels.
What actions has the Trump administration taken against Cuba?
The Trump administration declared Cuba a national security threat, imposed energy embargoes, and expanded sanctions affecting key sectors such as energy, defense, mining, and finance.