Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez on Monday issued a sharp warning to the U.S., saying any military action taken against the country from its northern neighbor would result in a “bloodbath” in response.
“The threats of military aggression against Cuba from the biggest military power on the planet are already known,” Díaz-Canel said in a post to social media. “The threat alone is an international crime. To make good on it would provoke a bloodbath of incalculable consequences, along with the destruction of peace and stability.”
Tensions between the U.S. and Cuba have escalated under the second Trump administration, which had employed a “maximum pressure” campaign against the island in an effort to force a regime change.
Following the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, the U.S. took control of Venezuela’s oil production — which Cuba relied heavily upon — and began blocking shipments of oil from other countries to Cuba.
As a result, Cuba’s already fragile energy grid began rapidly failing.
Trump has repeatedly hinted at taking total control of the island, telling reporters in March that Venezuela was just the first step.
“Taking Cuba, I mean, whether I free it, take it, I think I could do anything I want with it, if you want to know the truth,” Trump said. “I do believe I’ll have the honor of having the honor of taking Cuba. That’d be good. That’s a big honor.”
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Axios reported Sunday that some intelligence officials believed that the island has acquired more than 300 military drones and is discussing launching attacks on the U.S. base at Guantánamo Bay, military vessels and possibly even Key West, Florida, and that the intelligence could be used as a pretext for a U.S. strike.
POLITICO has not verified the details of the report, and the Cuban Embassy in the U.S. suggested in a Sunday statement it was a false pretext to target the island.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe last week traveled to Havana to meet with top officials.
Alice Miranda Ollstein contributed to this report.