In the midst of escalating tensions between Havana and Washington, a high-ranking Cuban military chief stepped forward on Tuesday to directly respond to the accusations made by President Donald Trump, who has labeled Cuba as an "exceptional threat" to the national security of the United States.
"We reaffirm that Cuba is not a threat to the United States," stated Colonel Juan Carlos Poey, head of the Anti-Drug Directorate of the Ministry of the Interior (Minint), during a press conference in Havana.
Furthermore, it was emphasized that the island acts as "a bulwark at sea" against drug trafficking coming from South America towards U.S. territory, according to a report by the agency AFP.
The official stated that if Cuba's anti-drug efforts were affected by the so-called "energy blockade," it would be the United States that should be concerned. "Even in the current circumstances, we continue to protect the United States from the evil represented by drugs," Poey declared.
The statements come in a context of strong pressure from Washington. Trump has justified the tightening of measures against the island by claiming it maintains ties with Russia, China, and Iran. From Havana, however, authorities insist that the country does not produce or store drugs and poses no threat to U.S. security.
The conference also featured the Minister of Justice, Rosabel Gamón Verde, and First Colonel Ivey Daniel Carballo, head of the General Staff of the Border Guard Troops, who warned that energy limitations could impact bilateral agreements such as maritime rescue.
He recalled that 150 kilometers off the Cuban coast, vessels and cruise ships often sail, many of them American, which depend on assistance in case of emergency.
According to data provided by Poey and collected by AFP, Cuba seized 1.9 tons of drugs in 2025. Due to its geographical location in the Caribbean, the island lies at the center of maritime routes used by speedboats that, when faced with danger, jettison their loads into the sea, which later wash up on its shores.
Cuba is experiencing a severe fuel shortage amid tightening sanctions. On the streets, this scarcity translates into collapsed transportation, hospitals facing limitations, and homes enduring hours without electricity.
The message from Havana seeks to project responsibility and cooperation in the face of drug trafficking, even amid a backdrop of political friction. However, for many Cubans, both on the island and abroad, the inevitable question is another: how can a country that claims to protect the United States from the flow of drugs fail to protect its own people from the economic and energy collapse that defines their daily lives?
The verbal confrontation with Washington thus returns to the center of the debate, while the internal crisis continues to strike hard at the population.
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