A Cuban deputy foreign minister said Wednesday that Cuba will defend itself against any possible U.S. military aggression.
The statement signals a sharp escalation in diplomatic tension between Havana and Washington. By publicly preparing for military conflict, Cuba is highlighting its perception of an imminent threat to its national sovereignty.
During an interview on PBS NewsHour, the diplomat said that U.S. military action could result in thousands of deaths [1, 2] and widespread destruction. The official said that such an outcome would be senseless and catastrophic for both sides.
Reports on the identity of the official vary among news organizations. PBS and NBC identified the speaker as Josefina Vidal Ferreiro, while Fox News and the Los Angeles Times identified the official as Carlos Fernández de Cossío.
Regardless of the specific official, the message remained consistent across reports. The diplomat said that Cuba is not seeking conflict but must remain vigilant. "It would be naive for us not to be ready in order to defend ourselves," Vidal Ferreiro said.
The warnings come as Cuban officials express growing concern over U.S. foreign policy. The diplomat said that the risk of bloodshed increases if the U.S. abandons dialogue in favor of war.
Carlos Fernández de Cossío echoed these sentiments in a separate report, saying that Cuba must be prepared for the possibility of military aggression from the United States. "If there's military aggression, there will be a lot of destruction and it doesn't have any sense," Vidal Ferreiro said.
“"It would be naive for us not to be ready in order to defend ourselves."”
This rhetoric indicates a breakdown in diplomatic communication and a shift toward a more defensive military posture by Cuba. By framing the U.S. as a potential aggressor and quantifying the potential human cost, Havana is attempting to create a deterrent and signal to the international community that it views U.S. policy as an existential threat.
