The Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel stated that the United States "fears the example of Cuba" and assured that the island "does not interfere in any way" with life in the northern country.
"The only thing that can affect the United States, the only reason it can see us with that anger, is because of its arrogant, hegemonic, domineering mindset. And the other reason is the fear of Cuba's example," said Díaz-Canel.
His statements were made in an interview with the Spanish politician Pablo Iglesias during his visit to Havana in March 2026, as a member of the Convoy Nuestra América.
Díaz-Canel insisted that Cuba does not pose a threat to Washington, despite decades of political tensions. “We are not a threat to anyone,” he said.
The leader defended the "peaceful, supportive" nature of the Cuban people and focused part of his remarks on criticizing U.S. sanctions, particularly those that affect European businessmen with interests in Cuba.
Díaz-Canel mentioned the pressures that Spanish companies operating in Havana have faced, including restrictions on their owners traveling to the United States.
In that regard, he mentioned the case of the travel authorization system known as ESTA. Díaz-Canel explained that European citizens visiting Cuba might face restrictions when trying to enter U.S. territory afterward, and in his view, this measure demonstrates the extraterritorial reach of the sanctions.
"They don't do this to anyone else in the world. Why does it have to be Cuba?" he questioned.
The Cuban leader also stated that the true reason behind Washington's policy is not security, but rather "the fear of Cuba's example" and a "hegemonic" vision of the United States. "We do not hinder the life of the United States at all," he reiterated.
His statements contrast sharply with the deep economic and social crisis that Cuba is experiencing, characterized by food shortages, frequent blackouts, and an unprecedented migratory exodus.
While the official discourse insists on resistance against external pressures, millions of Cubans face daily the consequences of a repressive political model that fails to provide effective solutions to the basic needs of the population.
Díaz-Canel's words come in a context of increasing international pressure and internal questioning about the regime's management, amid dialogues with the United States regarding a possible political transition in Cuba.
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