Cuba Prepares for Potential US Intervention Amid Secret Talks & Power Crisis
Cuba’s military is actively preparing for a potential military confrontation with the United States, according to Carlos Fernández de Cossío, the country’s deputy foreign minister. The announcement, made during an interview with NBC News’ “Meet the Press” airing Sunday, comes after recent rhetoric from former U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting a possible “takeover” of the island nation.
“Our military is always prepared, and in fact it is preparing these days for the possibility of military aggression,” Fernández de Cossío stated. “We would be naive if, looking at what’s happening around the world, we would not do that. But we truly hope that it doesn’t occur.”
The Cuban official emphasized that Havana does not seek conflict, stating, “We don’t see why it would have to occur, and we find no justification whatsoever.” He further asserted Cuba’s sovereignty, declaring the nation would not accept becoming a “vassal state” dependent on another country.
Trump’s recent comments, where he said it would be “a massive honor” to be the president to “take Cuba,” have heightened tensions. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, while cautioning against an invasion, acknowledged concerns within the Cuban government, stating, “If I lived in Havana and I was in the government, I’d be concerned.”
The situation is further complicated by escalating tensions following the U.S. Military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, a close ally of Cuba.
Fernández de Cossío revealed that secret negotiations are currently underway between Washington and Havana, though he declined to disclose details regarding the location or timing of recent meetings. He did state that Cuba’s political system – specifically, the one-party rule of the Communist Party – is not a subject of negotiation.
In a move seemingly aimed at de-escalation, the Cuban government has released a small number of political prisoners and offered to open its economy to investment from Cuban expatriates. However, these gestures were deemed “not far-reaching enough” by U.S. State Department officials, according to reports.
Cuba is currently grappling with a severe energy crisis, experiencing widespread power outages. The country’s power grid collapsed on Saturday, marking the third such incident this month. These outages are attributed to fuel shortages exacerbated by a U.S. Oil embargo and the loss of oil supplies from Venezuela and Mexico. Despite these challenges, Fernández de Cossío maintained that Cuba is “not in collapse” and is employing “creative” solutions to manage the crisis.
The Cuban deputy foreign minister did not elaborate on specific steps being taken in response to the heightened tensions, but confirmed that preparations are underway.