Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has responded to takeover threats from Donald Trump, warning that the US would face "unbreakable resistance" if it attempted to seize the country. Diaz-Canel accused the US of threatening "almost daily" to overthrow Cuba's constitutional order by force, using as a pretext an economy weakened by Washington's own policies, which he claimed had "attacked and sought to isolate [Cuba] for more than six decades."
The Cuban leader stated that the takeover plans were the only explanation for "the ferocious economic war that is applied as a collective punishment against the entire people." He asserted, "Faced with the worst-case scenario, Cuba has one guarantee: any external aggressor will encounter an unbreakable resistance." This comes amid a severe economic crisis in Cuba, exacerbated by recent US actions to cut off foreign currency and oil flows.
On Monday, Trump told reporters he believed he would have the "honor of taking Cuba," adding, "Whether I free it, take it, I think I can do anything I want with it." He described Cuba as a "failed nation" with "no money, no oil, no nothing," and doubled down on these remarks on Tuesday. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized Cuba's recent reforms as insufficient for the free-market changes demanded by the Trump administration, aligning with broader plans to bolster US dominance in the Western Hemisphere.
Communist Cuba is grappling with one of its worst economic crises since the 1959 revolution, worsened by decades of US trade embargo and recent measures. A recent 29-hour energy blackout, linked to the US cutting off oil supplies from Venezuela, highlights the island's vulnerabilities. Despite ongoing talks between Cuba and the US to defuse the crisis, neither side has provided details, with Trump portraying Cuba as desperate for a deal, underscoring the geopolitical tensions and the US regime's assertive regional strategy.
The situation reflects deepening friction between Havana and Washington, with Cuba's leadership framing US actions as aggressive and punitive, while the Trump administration pushes for concessions under the guise of economic pressure. The outcome of negotiations remains uncertain, but the rhetoric from both sides suggests a volatile period ahead for bilateral relations and regional stability.
Source: www.dw.com