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The Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (MINFAR) also joined the Cuban regime's rhetorical offensive this Sunday following revelations about the alleged acquisition of over 300 military attack drones from Russia and Iran, although it also refrained from denying the information disclosed by U.S. officials to Axios.
In a post on Facebook, MINFAR fully replicated the message issued hours earlier by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carlos Fernández de Cossío, who has become the main spokesperson for the regime amid increasing tensions with the United States.
"Like any country, Cuba has the right to defend itself against external aggression. This is called legitimate self-defense, and it is supported by International Law and the UN Charter," wrote the official in a statement that was later amplified by the Cuban military institution.
The reaction from MINFAR comes after Axios published a report based on classified U.S. intelligence indicating that the regime has acquired hundreds of military drones since 2023 and has discussed potential scenarios for their use against the Guantánamo naval base, U.S. vessels, and even Key West, Florida.
Neither the MINFAR nor the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX), nor Fernández de Cossío have directly denied the existence of drones or the alleged military plans attributed to the regime. Instead, Havana has chosen to insist on the narrative of "legitimate defense" against a threat of U.S. aggression.
In his original post, Fernández de Cossío accused certain sectors in the United States of "fabricating pretexts" to justify military action against Cuba, and asserted that there is a campaign to "distort" the country's defensive preparations.
The message was first disseminated by the Cuban Foreign Ministry and later by the MINFAR, highlighting a coordinated communication effort amidst one of the most significant diplomatic escalations between Washington and Havana in recent years.
The revelations come days after the visit to Cuba by CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who personally warned Cuban officials against any hostile actions and demanded the dismantling of the totalitarian system as a condition for easing sanctions.
U.S. officials have also expressed concern over the military cooperation between Havana, Moscow, and Tehran, especially following reports that thousands of Cubans may have fought alongside Russia in Ukraine and shared knowledge about drone warfare with the Cuban military.
Although U.S. authorities have clarified that they do not consider Cuba an imminent threat, the issue has further escalated political tensions between the two countries, while millions of Cubans on the island continue to face blackouts, shortages, and a deep economic crisis.
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