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The Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla once again placed the topic of a possible military intervention by the United States in Cuba at the center of the debate, but his message—directed at Washington—ended up provoking a strong reaction among Cubans both on and off the island.
"A recent survey in #USA concluded that 61% of the citizens in that country oppose their government launching a military attack on #Cuba, compared to only 13% who support such a military action.", wrote Rodríguez on the social network X.
Based on that information, the Cuban Foreign Minister urged the Trump administration to act accordingly.
He indicated that the "U.S. government should listen to and address the demands of the majority of its population and its voters, just as they committed to when they were elected."
In his post, Bruno Rodríguez also issued a broader criticism of the military history of the United States.
He said that the "American people are tired of decades of unjust wars, aggression, and military operations, where their taxes are funding ever-increasing military budgets, while they see public funds necessary to ensure their well-being being reduced proportionally."
The message, accompanied by an image of a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier, sparked hundreds of comments and revealed a deep polarization.
Cubans respond: "Listen to the people of Cuba first."
If Rodríguez appealed to the American public opinion, many Cubans responded by questioning why the Cuban government does not apply the same principle within the country.
One of the most emphatic comments noted: “Bruno, 99% of the citizens in your country want you out of the government. Come on, listen to them, hypocrite.”
Others insisted that any relevant survey should be conducted in Cuba: “Conduct the survey for the Cubans to see how many support the intervention.”
In an ironic tone, another user wrote: "That survey... better do it in Cuba and I assure you that 99% of Cubans support a military intervention."
There were also direct questions regarding the legitimacy of the official discourse: "Just as you hear the Cubans."
"90 percent of Cubans want you communists to get the hell out, and you keep suppressing freedoms"; "99% of Cubans support American intervention because you refuse to relinquish power"; "What survey? We all want all of you communists to be in prison," were some of the other opinions expressed.
There were also those who, without supporting an intervention, insisted that the Cuban system is collapsing on its own: “Cuba is falling apart on its own. There's no need to attack it.”
Some minimized the interest in the topic in the United States: “In reality, most Americans couldn't care less.”
And there were not lacking opposing stances, either defending the official narrative or warning about the consequences of a military action: “The American people know that a military attack would provoke a strong response from the Cuban people.”
A message amidst the rhetorical escalation
Rodríguez's statements do not occur in a vacuum.
They arrive in a context of escalating rhetorical tension between Havana and Washington, marked by recent statements from President Donald Trump that have reignited the debate on Cuba.
From the White House, Trump stated that he believed he would have "the honor" of taking the island, which he described as a "failed nation."
"They have no money, they have no oil, they have nothing… If I free her, I take her. I think I can do whatever I want with her," he stated.
This was added to the revelation published on March 22 by The Atlantic, which described a supposed regime change plan that would combine economic pressure, legal actions against Cuban elites in Florida, and contacts for a political transition.
Although the White House, through its spokesperson Anna Kelly, denied those reports, the issue has continued to fuel the political debate.
In Congress, concerns have also taken on a legislative form. Democratic Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez introduced a War Powers Resolution to prevent Trump from ordering a military offensive without authorization from Capitol Hill.
"Trump's foreign policy is out of control and is putting countless American and foreign lives at risk," he warned. However, the initiative faces little chance of success due to Republican control of the House.
An increasingly critical internal reality
The exchange of statements comes at a particularly sensitive time for Cuba. Since early 2026, the island has been facing an energy crisis exacerbated by the interruption of Venezuelan oil supplies, which has led to daily blackouts lasting up to 20 and 25 hours in various regions.
This is compounded by a sustained economic decline that, according to various citizen opinions, has led around 80% of Cubans to believe that the current situation is worse than what was experienced during the Special Period of the 1990s.
In this context, independent journalistic reports have captured a phrase that is increasingly echoed on the streets of Havana: "When is Trump coming?" reflecting both the desperation and the expectation—in some sectors—of a change.
In the midst of this scenario, Rodríguez's message, rather than creating consensus, ends up reigniting a deeper debate: the legitimacy of a government that asks others to listen to its people while facing increasing scrutiny within its own borders.
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