Cuba sends stern warning to Donald Trump – ‘always prepared’ | World | News

Cuba has issued a stern warning to Donald Trump, insisting its forces are ready for potential “military aggression” from the United States. Cuban deputy foreign minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío said it would be “naive” for the country’s communist government to ignore the possibility of conflict.

His comments came days after the US President spoke of “taking Cuba” amid ongoing negotiations between the two countries. After the United States captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a close ally of the Havana government, tensions between the two countries increased and there were reports suggesting that the United States was pursuing a similar intervention in Cuba. Mr Fernández de Cossío said: “Our army is always prepared. And in fact these days it is preparing for the possibility of a military attack.”

To talk NBC NewsHe added: “Our country has historically been prepared to mobilize for military aggression as a nation as a whole.

“We really always see this as something that’s far from us. We don’t believe it’s something that’s possible. But we’d be naive if we didn’t prepare.”

While the US oil embargo on the island continues, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is leading negotiations with Cuba.

Rubio, who has long signaled that he wants regime change in Cuba after the intervention in Venezuela in January, said: “If I lived in Havana and was in the government, I would be worried.”

He said this week that Cuba “is in big trouble and the people in charge don’t know how to fix it, so they have to put new people in place.”

Meanwhile, Mr Trump, who last month suggested the US might carry out a “friendly takeover” of Cuba, told reporters at the White House on Monday: “You know, I’ve been hearing about the US and Cuba all my life. When is the US going to do that?”

“I believe I will have the honor of taking Cuba. I think I can do whatever I want with it, whether I release it or take it. You want to know the truth. They are a very weakened nation right now.”

Speaking to NBC News’ ‘Meet the Press’, Mr Fernández de Cossío insisted that regime change was not on the agenda in talks with the US.

“Cuba is a sovereign country and has the right to be a sovereign country and has the right to self-determination,” he said.

“Cuba will not accept being a vassal state or dependent state of another country or another superpower.”

The country is facing a major economic crisis and Mr Fernández de Cossío said the US oil blockade was “very severe”.

He accused the United States of threatening other countries with “coercive measures” against fuel imports to the island.

Cuba’s power grid collapsed on Saturday, leaving the entire country without power for the third time in March.

Residents of the area also experienced daily power outages due to the blockade.