Cuba’s President Warns U.S. Against Attack or Regime Change in Cuba

Speaking in an interview on NBC News’ Meet the Press, the president said an invasion of Cuba would be costly and impact regional security. However, Diaz-Canel said that in such a situation, Cubans will defend themselves.

“If the time comes, I don’t think there would be any justification for the United States to launch a military attack on Cuba, for the United States to perform a surgical operation or to kidnap a president,” Diaz-Canel said through a translator. he said.

“If this happens, there will be a fight, there will be a struggle, we will defend ourselves, if we have to die, we will die, because as our National Anthem says, ‘dying for the homeland is living’.”

His comments come as tensions between Cuba and the United States remain high despite both sides agreeing to talks, although no details were shared.

Diaz-Canel accused the US government of pursuing a “hostile policy” towards Cuba and said it was “immoral to demand anything from Cuba”. He stated that Cuba wants to engage in dialogue and discuss any issue unconditionally, and that “we do not demand changes from our political system, nor do we demand changes from the American system, about which we have some doubts.”

Cuba blames a U.S. energy blockade for its deepening woes as a lack of oil affects the island’s healthcare system, public transportation and production of goods and services.

Cuba produces only 40 percent of the fuel it consumes and stopped receiving major oil shipments from Venezuela after the U.S. military attacked the South American country in early January, captured President Nicolas Maduro and took him to New York to face drug trafficking charges. Then, with the cooperation of ruling party leaders, the Trump administration began implementing a phased plan to end Venezuela’s entrenched crisis.

The arrival of a Russian tanker carrying 7,30,000 barrels of crude oil in Cuba in March was the island’s first oil shipment in three months. Russia promised to send a second tanker.

Despite threatening tariffs on countries that sell or supply oil to Cuba in January, the Trump administration allowed the tanker to proceed.

At the time, President Donald Trump said, “Cuba is done.” “They have a bad regime. They have a very bad and corrupt leadership, and it doesn’t matter whether they get a boat of oil or not.”

Diaz-Canel said his government perceived Trump’s words as a warning.

“You hear that Cuba is next, Cuba will be next, there is a way out, they are going to take over Cuba,” he said. “So, in terms of responsibility within the country’s leadership, this is a wake-up call. And we need to responsibly protect our people, protect our project and protect our country.”