The Cuban ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel attended military exercises this Saturday amid tensions with the Trump Administration.
Díaz-Canel was seen at the Great Tank Unit of the Combat Glory "Rescate de Sanguily" and later at an air defense unit, where he rallied the troops with the usual slogans of the regime's propaganda.
"The best way to prevent an aggression is for imperialism to have to calculate what the cost of attacking our country would be. And this is closely related to the preparation we have for these types of military actions," he said, according to a report from the Presidency of Cuba.
The leader was accompanied by the top military brass of the regime: Army Corps General and Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR), Álvaro López Miera; Army Corps General Roberto Legrá Sotolongo, First Deputy Minister and Chief of the General Staff of the FAR; and Army Corps General and Deputy Minister of the FAR, Joaquín Quintas Solá.
"This takes on significant importance in the current times," he said referring to the exercises he witnessed: "in light of the entire hegemonic offensive being developed by the United States government."
He also highlighted the high levels of "preparation, cohesion that you have, and cooperation among different types of components of the territorial defensive system."
"By participating in this way, preparing ourselves for the defense of the Homeland, we achieve unity, and when we have united, history has shown that we have always achieved victory," he added.
Following the capture of Nicolás Maduro on January 3, the administration of President Donald Trump is reportedly working actively to provoke a political change in Cuba before the end of the year, according to an extensive investigation published by The Wall Street Journal.
According to U.S. officials quoted by the newspaper, Washington sees a "historic window of opportunity" to pressure the Cuban government until its collapse, in a context of unprecedented economic deterioration and growing regional isolation.
Although there is no declared military plan or official timeline, the White House strategy aims to intensify economic, diplomatic, and symbolic pressure on the Cuban regime, while seeking internal interlocutors willing to negotiate a potential transition.
Alongside public pressure measures, the U.S. government has intensified its discreet contacts with the Cuban exile community and civic leaders in cities like Miami and Washington.
What is the objective?: To identify potential figures within the Cuban state apparatus who can "see what is looming" and are willing to negotiate a negotiated exit.
According to the Wall Street Journal, multiple private meetings have taken place in which information has reportedly been requested regarding Cuban officials or military personnel "willing to understand the historical moment" and break away from the leadership.
Filed under: