The Cuban National Assembly has issued a bold declaration, asserting that any U.S. military intervention will face a "unyielding and steadfast resistance," emphasizing Cuba's commitment to defend its sovereignty "to the last consequence."
Made public during the Seventh Ordinary Period of Sessions of the Tenth Legislature at Havana's Convention Palace, this statement intensifies the official rhetoric amidst escalating tensions between Havana and Washington following the tightening of U.S. sanctions.
Dated July 29, 2026, the document claims that any military action by the United States will not succeed in subjugating Cuba.
"Such aggression will encounter the unyielding and steadfast resistance of the Cuban people, who will not relinquish an inch of their territory nor any sovereign rights. It will lead to casualties and destruction, resulting in a bloodbath, but will fail to subordinate Cuba to the neocolonial dictates of the United States," the declaration warns.
This statement was delivered at a session led by Raúl Castro, Miguel Díaz-Canel, and the President of the National Assembly, Esteban Lazo Hernández.
The message was bolstered by a speech from Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, who reiterated that the regime would respond militarily if it deemed the country attacked.
"We have the right and duty to reject and confront the aggression that punishes and threatens us, and we have the supreme right and duty to defend ourselves, even with arms, if we are militarily attacked," stated the Foreign Minister, as reported by the state-run media Cubadebate.
Rejecting Direct Confrontation
Despite the defiant warning, Rodríguez assured that Havana does not seek a direct confrontation with Washington.
"Cuba is not a threat to the United States, nor does it wish to be its adversary or enemy," he said, reaffirming the regime's willingness to engage in dialogue based on mutual respect.
Blaming Trump for Rising Tensions
The parliamentary declaration attributes the rising tensions to actions taken by former President Donald Trump's administration.
One was the executive order issued on January 29, 2026, in which the U.S. announced a national emergency concerning Cuba and imposed new restrictions on countries supplying oil to the island. The second, Executive Order 14404, signed on May 1, expanded sanctions against strategic sectors of the Cuban economy, including energy, defense, and finance, targeting third countries maintaining commercial ties with the regime.
The document also dismisses the charges filed by the U.S. Department of Justice in May against Raúl Castro for the 1996 shootdown of Brothers to the Rescue aircraft, labeling it a "political provocation."
Suffering Under Sanctions
The Cuban Parliament contends that the intensified sanctions have worsened the country's economic and energy situation.
The repercussions include prolonged blackouts across various provinces, over 100,000 pending surgeries, and shortages of essential medicines, statistics that Miguel Díaz-Canel cited in his speech on July 26.
However, independent economists and analysts argue that the current crisis also stems from decades-long structural issues, such as low productivity, lack of investment, and a centralized planning model, alongside the impact of U.S. sanctions.
Call to the International Community
The National Assembly also supported Díaz-Canel's statements, who on July 26 labeled Washington's policy as a "coldly calculated genocide," urging parliaments worldwide to oppose any potential military intervention against Cuba.
The document highlights that on July 7, the United Nations General Assembly, backed by 136 countries, approved a debate on the consequences of the embargo and Cuba's situation, a discussion promoted by the Cuban government.
In his remarks, Bruno Rodríguez emphasized that, according to the regime, U.S. policy aims to increase pressure on the Cuban population.
"The genuine goal and inclination of the U.S. Government are not manifested through dialogue or diplomacy, nor by offering aid, but through coercion and the intent to inflict the greatest possible punishment on the Cuban people to force their surrender," he asserted.
Understanding Cuba-U.S. Tensions
What triggered the recent escalation in Cuba-U.S. relations?
The recent escalation is attributed to executive orders from the Trump administration that imposed new sanctions and declared a national emergency concerning Cuba, further straining relations between the two countries.
How has Cuba been affected by the intensified U.S. sanctions?
The intensified sanctions have exacerbated Cuba's economic and energy challenges, leading to prolonged blackouts, a backlog of medical surgeries, and shortages of essential medications.
What is Cuba's stance on potential military intervention by the U.S.?
Cuba has declared it will resist any U.S. military intervention with unwavering resistance, ready to defend its sovereignty to the utmost extent, although it does not seek direct confrontation.