On Friday, Miguel Díaz-Canel marked the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks by accusing the United States of engaging in "state-sponsored terrorism" against Cuba.
The Cuban leader began his message with a quote from Fidel Castro, delivered on the day of the attacks, where Castro argued that anti-terrorism efforts should also aim to "end state-sponsored terrorism and other grotesque forms of killing, putting an end to genocides, while faithfully pursuing a policy of peace and adherence to moral and legal standards that are unavoidable."
Using this statement as a foundation, Díaz-Canel shifted the discussion to the strained relations between Havana and Washington.
"Cuba, having endured over 60 years of various terrorist attacks resulting in more than 3,400 deaths and 2,099 injuries, now faces a genocidal plan to starve the population into submission. This, too, is terrorism, state-sponsored terrorism," the Cuban leader asserted.
This statement is part of an ongoing rhetorical exchange throughout 2026 between the Cuban regime and the Trump administration. In January 2025, the Trump administration reinstated Cuba on the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism, reversing an earlier decision by the Biden administration to remove the island from this designation.
In May of that year, Cuba was also added to the list of countries that do not fully cooperate against terrorism, joining North Korea, Syria, Iran, and Venezuela.
Throughout the year, the Department of State released reports linking the Cuban regime to armed groups like the ELN and FARC. In June, Secretary Marco Rubio labeled Cuba as the "capital of 21st-century terrorism."
Deputy Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío accused the United States of being the "primary source of terrorism" in the Western Hemisphere, while Díaz-Canel called Rubio "corrupt" and associated him with Florida-based drug traffickers and terrorists.
In August, Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez participated in events for the International Day of Victims of Terrorism, an action critics called hypocritical given the Cuban government's repressive history against its own people.
Understanding U.S.-Cuba Relations Amid Accusations
Why did Díaz-Canel accuse the United States of state-sponsored terrorism?
Díaz-Canel accused the United States of state-sponsored terrorism as part of a broader critique of U.S. foreign policy towards Cuba, citing historical and ongoing measures that he claims constitute acts of terrorism against the Cuban people.
What was the reaction to the Trump administration's actions towards Cuba?
The Trump administration's decision to reinstate Cuba on the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism and increase restrictions led to heightened tensions and rhetorical exchanges between the two governments, with Cuba denouncing these actions as unjust and politically motivated.
How has the U.S. justified its position on Cuba?
The U.S. has justified its stance by citing Cuba's alleged support and connections to armed groups like the ELN and FARC, as well as its failure to fully cooperate in counter-terrorism efforts, labeling Cuba a threat to regional stability.