Related videos:
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, Carlos Fernández de Cossío, warned this Sunday that the strategy of "maximum economic pressure" applied by Washington could lead to a military aggression against the island, according to the statements of the U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.
"One must listen carefully to what the U.S. Secretary of State says and repeats. As he stated, they will continue to apply maximum economic pressure against Cuba. If this provokes a humanitarian crisis, they will consider it a threat 90 miles from the U.S., and the President would choose military aggression," wrote Fernández de Cossío in his post.
The Cuban official summarizes the regime's fear regarding an escalation that Washington has been building in recent weeks with specific statements and measures.
Rubio has reiterated on several occasions that Cuba poses a threat to the national security of the United States due to its geographical proximity and its ties with Russia and China, and that the island is heading towards a "systemic collapse."
Last Wednesday, he stated that "the president always has the option to do whatever is necessary" to protect national interests, and that the Cuban threat is something Washington will focus on "100%."
Last Thursday, Trump hinted at a possible military intervention, although Washington's official position maintains that the preference is for a negotiated diplomatic solution and that no military action is imminent.
The economic pressure has been intense. On May 1, Trump signed Executive Order 14404, which expanded sanctions against the Cuban energy, defense, mining, and finance sectors, and introduced secondary sanctions against foreign third parties that conduct business with sanctioned Cuban entities.
The deadline for those companies to terminate their ties is June 5.
On May 7th, Rubio announced direct sanctions against GAESA, the military conglomerate that controls approximately 70% of the Cuban economy, its leader Ania Guillermina Lastres Morera, and the mining company Moa Nickel S.A. Since January, the U.S. has reportedly imposed over 240 sanctions against Cuba.
The consequences are already visible in foreign trade: shipping companies like Hapag-Lloyd and CMA CGM have suspended cargo bookings to and from the island, and Sherritt International saw its stock drop by up to 30%.
The Cuban regime has responded with a diplomatic offensive. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla accused Rubio last Wednesday of lying to "instigate a military aggression against Cuba" that would result in Cuban and American casualties.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on May 8 that the U.S. seeks to provoke an internal explosion in Cuba and create a humanitarian crisis scenario to justify more dangerous actions, "including military aggression."
Fernández de Cossío himself had already accused Rubio last Wednesday of lying about Cuba to justify a "cruel and ruthless aggression" against the Cuban people.
The Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated before Congress on May 12 that Cuba is a "threat to the national security" of the U.S., while leaks reported by American media indicated that the Pentagon intensified discreet planning for potential military operations against the island.
Cuba is experiencing a severe energy and economic crisis, with power outages of up to 22 hours a day, shortages of food and fuel, and massive emigration, which Rubio himself has cited as evidence of the regime's model failure.
Filed under: