Jan 16, 2026, 7:06 p.mJan 16, 2026, 7:06 p.m
After threats from Washington against Cuba and the US attack on its ally Venezuela, the socialist government in Havana is fighting. The Cuban leadership will not negotiate with the US government under pressure and will not make political concessions, President Miguel Díaz-Canel said at a rally.
“This will never be on the negotiating table,” said the head of state in front of thousands of demonstrators at the so-called “Anti-Imperialist Tribune,” a square directly in front of the US Embassy on Havana’s waterfront.
After the January 3 military operation in Venezuela, US President Donald Trump warned Cuba on his Truth Social platform: “I strongly recommend that they make a deal BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE.” It was unclear what type of deal he meant. Venezuela has been one of Cuba’s most important economic and political allies for decades.
“Gentlemen imperialists: We are absolutely not afraid of you.”
Miguel Diaz-Canel
The demonstration in Havana was held as another memorial service for the 32 Cuban security officers killed in the US attack on Caracas. During the operation, head of state Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were captured by US elite soldiers and taken to New York. They will be tried there for drug offenses.
Now Cuba is under increasing pressure. “The current White House Emperor and his infamous US Secretary of State have not stopped threatening us,” said Díaz-Canel, referring to Trump and Marco Rubio. However, Cuba will not allow itself to be intimidated. If the USA attacks Cuba, the Caribbean state will defend itself. “Gentlemen imperialists: we are absolutely not afraid of you,” he said.
The Caribbean island is in its worst economic crisis since the victory of Fidel Castro’s revolution in 1959. Among other things, there is a lack of fuel. If the US permanently cuts off deliveries of oil from Venezuela, the Cuban economy could collapse completely. (sda/dpa)