On Friday, Miguel Díaz-Canel reaffirmed Cuba's firm stance against any form of foreign military aggression, emphasizing that the regime is actively preparing for such a scenario. This announcement was a direct response to President Donald Trump's remarks made on Thursday, where he suggested he would "definitely consider" a brief military campaign against the island.
The Cuban leader's statement was made during a session of the Zone Defense Council (CDZ) in Boyeros, a municipality in Havana, as reported by Cuba's official presidential website. This event was part of the country's National Defense Day activities.
Díaz-Canel directly linked the regime's heightened military readiness to what he described as Washington's "persistent threatening rhetoric." He noted that such pressure has compelled Havana to "activate wartime structures to operate during peacetime."
Trump's comments on Wednesday were his most pointed to date, describing Cuba as "essentially a failed state, a failed nation." He expressed a desire to "end Cuba" before concluding his presidency, highlighting Secretary of State Marco Rubio as a key figure in addressing the issue.
On Friday, State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott supported these statements on Fox News, asserting that having a "failed nation" close to U.S. shores poses a "direct threat to U.S. national security."
Pigott also blamed the island's humanitarian crisis on the regime's "incompetence," labeling them "incompetent communists," and announced a U.S. offer of $100 million in humanitarian aid to Cuba, contingent on its direct delivery to the population through independent verification mechanisms.
In Boyeros, Díaz-Canel was joined by key figures in the power structure: Esteban Lazo Hernández, president of the National Assembly; Roberto Morales Ojeda, secretary of the Communist Party Organization; and Generals Álvaro López Miera and Lázaro Alberto Álvarez Casas, ministers of the FAR and MININT, respectively.
The Cuban president cited the Moncada 2026 Strategic Exercise, held on November 4 and 5, as evidence of the regime's defensive capabilities and highlighted the weekly preparation sessions in defense zones across the country.
Boyeros, which has over 29,000 residents and spans about 15 square kilometers, contains strategic facilities like the José Martí airport and is expected to operate 36 production and defense brigades in the event of conflict.
In his speech, Díaz-Canel also called for the end of the U.S. embargo, describing Washington's pressures as "genocidal aggression," while referencing the recent UN vote on Cuba's anti-embargo resolution as a testament to international support.
The escalation in rhetoric comes amid growing tensions throughout 2026. Last week, Cuba's representative to the UN acknowledged the island's "vastly unequal" military disadvantage—approximately 50,000 Cuban troops compared to 1.3 million U.S. soldiers—though he assured that Havana takes the possibility of an operation "very seriously."
In May, Díaz-Canel had already warned delegates from 36 countries about the "imminence of a military aggression," invoking the doctrine of the War of All the People and declaring that "every Cuban man and woman has a rifle."
"Cuba is a peaceful nation, a country that offers solidarity... and therefore poses no threat to any nation's national security worldwide," Díaz-Canel insisted on Friday. His speech mixed defensive rhetoric with demands for Washington to "end the collective punishment imposed on the Cuban people."
Cuba's Military Preparedness and International Relations
What measures is Cuba taking in response to potential military threats?
Cuba is preparing for potential military aggression by activating wartime structures to operate during peacetime and conducting strategic exercises to demonstrate defensive capabilities.
How has the U.S. responded to Cuba's current situation?
The U.S. has described Cuba as a "failed state" and offered $100 million in humanitarian aid, contingent on independent verification. They also consider the situation a direct threat to U.S. national security.
What is the significance of the Boyeros region in Cuba's defense strategy?
The Boyeros region is strategically important due to facilities like the José Martí airport and its capacity to operate multiple production and defense brigades in the event of conflict.