Phil Ehr, a retired U.S. Navy commander with 26 years of service and currently a Democratic congressional candidate from Florida, issued a strong rebuttal to Miguel Díaz-Canel's provocative statements, in which the Cuban leader claimed that Cuba would endure a potential invasion "to the last drop of blood."
Díaz-Canel's warning was part of a recorded message sent to the 50th Avante Festival of the Portuguese Communist Party, held in Amora, Portugal. The Cuban presidency released the message on September 7, sparking an immediate reaction from Ehr just a few hours later.
“Díaz-Canel is as arrogant and prepotent as Maduro. They act tough, but they are small, cowardly men who only survive by bleeding their own people dry,” the former military commander declared on his X account.
Ehr criticized the hypocrisy embedded in the regime's rhetoric: "‘To the last drop of blood’? Sure: they never mean their own blood or that of their families. They are talking about the blood of the Cuban people, whom they've used as human shields for almost seven decades to maintain power."
Ending his message with a direct challenge, Ehr addressed the Cuban leader: "If Díaz-Canel thinks his threats intimidate us, he's mistaken. I served 26 years in the Navy and know the difference between a hero and a communist charlatan. We will defend the Cuban people, protect civilians, and never allow the dictatorship to decide how many Cubans must die to remain in power."
Díaz-Canel has reiterated similar phrases on numerous occasions this year, including a warning in May that a U.S. military aggression would "result in a bloodbath of incalculable consequences," and another in July directly responding to President Trump, asserting his country’s readiness to "fight to the last drop of blood" to defend its sovereignty.
Ehr, running for Congress in Florida's 28th District—home to one of the largest Cuban American electorates in the country—has intensified his stance on Cuba throughout the year.
In early September, he called for the U.S. government to charge, arrest, and prosecute Díaz-Canel, spurred partly by charges filed in May by the Department of Justice against Raúl Castro for the 1996 shootdown of Brothers to the Rescue planes.
In August, the Democratic candidate unveiled a six-point plan for Cuba's freedom, considering the possibility of Congress-authorized military action, with conditions including civilian protection, release of political prisoners, and dismantling the repressive apparatus.
Ehr also warned that a negotiated exit leaving the Communist Party, Revolutionary Armed Forces, and GAESA in control wouldn't constitute real change: "We've seen that movie before in Venezuela," he remarked, referring to the scenario following Nicolás Maduro's capture by U.S. forces on January 3.
Key Insights on U.S.-Cuba Relations
What prompted Phil Ehr's strong response to Díaz-Canel?
Phil Ehr reacted to Díaz-Canel's assertion that Cuba would resist any invasion "to the last drop of blood," viewing it as a hypocritical and arrogant stance given the regime's long history of using the Cuban people as human shields.
What measures has Phil Ehr proposed for Cuba's freedom?
Phil Ehr has suggested a six-point plan that includes potential military action authorized by Congress, ensuring civilian protection, freeing political prisoners, and dismantling the oppressive regime's structures.
How has Díaz-Canel responded to U.S. threats in the past?
Díaz-Canel has consistently issued defiant statements, including warnings about a potential "bloodbath" if the U.S. were to engage in military aggression and a commitment to defend Cuban sovereignty "to the last drop of blood."