Esteban Lazo Hernández, who serves as the president of Cuba's National Assembly of People's Power, delivered a speech on Wednesday at the "Fidel and Parliamentary Diplomacy" forum. During his address, he asserted that "Cuba has never committed an act of aggression against the American people."
Speaking alongside Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, the Foreign Minister, and Teresa Amarelle Boué, the General Secretary of the Federation of Cuban Women, Lazo reiterated his claim: "Cuba has never committed an act of aggression against the American people," as reported by the pro-government digital newspaper, Victoria.
Lazo characterized the military presence in the Caribbean as a "blatant display" of Washington's interventionism, attributing it to the Monroe Doctrine and its adaptation under the Trump administration.
This event was part of the concluding day of the first International Colloquium "Fidel: Legacy and Future," held at the Havana Convention Palace from August 10 to 13, commemorating the centennial of Fidel Castro's birth. The event gathered over a thousand participants from 63 different countries.
The Cuban government's remarks come amid heightened bilateral tensions. On January 20, 2025, the first day of his return to the White House, Trump reinstated Cuba on the list of state sponsors of terrorism, reversing a move made by the Biden administration.
Since then, the U.S. has imposed more than 240 additional sanctions on the island and deployed the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier along with over 1,300 marines in the Caribbean as part of "Operation Southern Spear."
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth invoked the Monroe Doctrine to caution Havana against acquiring weapons capable of reaching U.S. territory or bases. Meanwhile, in June, Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed before the Senate that Cuba remains on the list of terrorism sponsors due to alleged support for the ELN and FARC and for hosting Chinese and Russian intelligence bases.
In response to these pressures, the Cuban government launched the "2026 Year of Defense Preparedness" and conducted exercises based on the "war of the entire people" doctrine.
During his speech, Lazo also denounced the designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, emphasizing that "Cuba is not a threat to the United States and its national security, Cuba is not a state sponsor of terrorism."
He reminded that Latin America and the Caribbean were declared a zone of peace in January 2014 during the second CELAC Summit in Havana, urging worldwide parliamentarians to "amplify calls for peaceful coexistence in parliamentary settings," so that "force does not prevail over the right to life, security, and health."
Lazo also supported the opinions expressed by Miguel Díaz-Canel during the colloquium's opening session, advocating for problem-solving through truth, creating effective networks, and fostering critical thinking. He defended the continuation of Cuba's political system as "a constitutional decision to pursue the construction of a socialist society."
The colloquium, coinciding precisely with the centenary of Castro's birth on Thursday, concluded with discussions on information technology, political economy, development models, religion, and cultural heritage.
Key Questions on Cuba-U.S. Relations
Why did the U.S. reinstate Cuba on the list of state sponsors of terrorism?
The U.S. reinstated Cuba on the list due to allegations of supporting ELN and FARC and hosting Chinese and Russian intelligence bases.
What is Operation Southern Spear?
Operation Southern Spear is a U.S. military initiative involving the deployment of the USS Nimitz and over 1,300 marines in the Caribbean to counter perceived threats from Cuba.
What measures has Cuba taken in response to U.S. actions?
Cuba has activated the "2026 Year of Defense Preparedness" and conducted military exercises under the "war of the entire people" doctrine.