On Monday, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla took to X to emphasize Cuba's "right to legitimate defense against any external threat," citing the UN Charter and International Law. This statement follows a recent spike in rhetorical tension from the regime after Axios reported on Cuban military drones.
This marks the second time in under 24 hours that Rodríguez has addressed the issue. On Sunday, he accused Washington of fabricating "a fraudulent case to justify the ruthless economic war against the Cuban people and potential military aggression," notably avoiding any direct reference to the drone report.
In his latest message, Rodríguez criticized those who "seek to unlawfully attack Cuba," claiming they would use "any excuse, no matter how deceitful or absurd, to justify an assault contrary to American and global public opinion."
The foreign minister also condemned the media, stating, "It's unfortunate that news outlets continue to be accomplices in such a crime."
The controversy was ignited by a Sunday report from Axios, based on classified U.S. intelligence, which alleged that Cuba had acquired over 300 attack drones from Russia and Iran since 2023, storing them in strategic locations across the island. According to this intelligence, Cuban officials purportedly discussed using these drones against the Guantanamo Naval Base, U.S. military vessels, and areas near Key West, Florida.
Notably absent from the Cuban government's response is any explicit denial of the drones' existence or the alleged plans. Instead, they have consistently invoked the principle of legitimate defense.
Deputy Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío echoed this sentiment on Sunday, asserting that "the U.S. is the aggressor country. Cuba, the aggrieved nation, stands by the principle of legitimate defense," without refuting the drone allegations.
President Miguel Díaz-Canel warned on Monday that any aggression "would lead to a bloodbath with unimaginable consequences," while also insisting that "Cuba poses no threat and has no aggressive plans or intentions towards any nation."
In a show of unified messaging, the Foreign Ministry launched the hashtag #LaPatriaSeDefiende, and the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces shared Fernández de Cossío's message in full, underscoring the regime's coordinated response to the drone report controversy.
Key Questions About Cuba's Military Tensions
What did the Axios report allege about Cuba's military capabilities?
The Axios report claimed that Cuba had acquired over 300 military drones from Russia and Iran since 2023, storing them in strategic locations on the island.
How has Cuba officially responded to the drone allegations?
Cuban officials have not explicitly denied the existence of the drones or the alleged plans, instead emphasizing their right to legitimate defense.
What is the significance of the hashtag #LaPatriaSeDefiende?
The hashtag #LaPatriaSeDefiende, launched by the Cuban Foreign Ministry, signifies the coordinated effort of the regime to assert Cuba's right to defend itself amidst the drone controversy.