Alina Fernández, the biological daughter of Fidel Castro and a staunch anti-communist who has lived in exile in Miami since 1993, issued a warning during a CNN interview on Tuesday. She cautioned that the United States is underestimating the Cuban regime's capability to withstand and respond to any potential military intervention.
This interview comes at a time of heightened tension between Washington and Havana. The Trump administration has been actively pushing for regime change through sanctions and diplomatic pressure, with reports suggesting that the Pentagon has been considering military options against Cuba.
"It's not the first time Cubans have been told an invasion is imminent," Fernández remarked. "We've been living under the shadow of invasion, or at least the conditions for one, for the past 67 years. I'm sure they're ready. I don't know how they will react."
While Fernández expressed no fondness for the Havana government, she emphasized that military intervention would cause immense suffering for the civilian population.
"We know these regimes place civilians on the front line," she stated. "That's the feeling I have: that my happiness won't be reflected in the way a solution is reached. It's going to be very painful."
Her comments echo those of President Miguel Díaz-Canel, who warned on social media on Tuesday that U.S. military aggression "would trigger a bloodbath with incalculable consequences."
Regarding Washington's increasingly aggressive stance towards Cuba, Fernández pointed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio as a driving force, more so than President Donald Trump himself.
"I think it owes much more to Marco Rubio's presence in the government than to President Donald Trump," she asserted.
Fernández also addressed the impending federal criminal charge against her uncle Raúl Castro, related to the February 24, 1996, shootdown of two Brothers to the Rescue aircraft, which resulted in the deaths of four Cuban-Americans.
"Raúl Castro is nearly 95 years old," she commented. "I don't see much logic in what's happening, unless it's part of the strategy."
The Department of Justice planned to make the announcement in Miami on Wednesday, coinciding with Cuba's independence day, in a politically symbolic move. The key evidence in the case is reportedly an audio recording from June 1996 in which Raúl Castro allegedly ordered the aircraft to be shot down.
Fernández, who escaped Cuba in 1993 disguised with a wig and a fake passport to protect her daughter, dismissed Trump's belief that Cuba will easily yield to U.S. pressure.
"It's very hard for people to surrender," she cautioned. "It's very difficult for countries to admit they've lost the war... I think they lost this war against imperialism a long time ago."
Understanding Alina Fernández's Perspective on Cuba-U.S. Relations
What did Alina Fernández warn about the U.S. approach to Cuba?
Alina Fernández warned that the United States is underestimating the Cuban regime's ability to endure and respond to potential military actions.
What are Fernández's views on military intervention in Cuba?
Fernández believes that military intervention would lead to significant suffering for civilians in Cuba and highlighted that such regimes often place civilians at risk.
How does Fernández view the influence of Marco Rubio on U.S. policy towards Cuba?
Fernández sees Marco Rubio as a major influence on the U.S.'s aggressive policy towards Cuba, even more so than President Trump.
What is the significance of the charges against Raúl Castro?
The charges against Raúl Castro are linked to the 1996 shootdown of two aircraft, and the announcement was timed with Cuba's independence day for political impact.