Related videos:
The charge d'affaires of the Cuban embassy in Washington, Lianys Torres Rivera, described this Tuesday the recent U.S. sanctions against the regime's leadership and the federal charges against dictator Raúl Castro as a "pretext" to persuade the American people to support a military intervention in Cuba.
In an interview granted to The Associated Press, at the headquarters of the diplomatic mission in the U.S. capital, he emphasized: "We see the sanctions against our leaders as a pretext to make the American people believe that we are a threat."
He also added, "We are not a threat to the U.S. and we do not want confrontation."
The diplomat, who holds the formal title of chargé d'affaires, described the situation as "a war without bombs" and warned that any attempt to change the Cuban government through coercion or force would be met with resistance.
"If we are attacked, we will respond, and we are prepared for that. But we do not want it," he stated.
His statements come at a time of heightened tension between Havana and Washington.
On May 20, the Department of Justice declassified a federal indictment by a grand jury in Miami against Castro and five other officials for the shooting down of two civilian aircraft belonging to the organization Brothers to the Rescue on February 24, 1996, which resulted in the deaths of four Cuban Americans.
Regarding that accusation, Torres Rivera was emphatic: "Raúl is sacred. Raúl is a sacred symbol of the revolution, and we will defend Raúl — just as we will defend the country — to the end."
The same day that the Treasury Department imposed sanctions on President Miguel Díaz-Canel, on Castro's son and grandson, and other officials, President Donald Trump declared about Cuba: “We will handle that as soon as we finish” the military operations in Iran.
The diplomat's statements reflect concern that Washington's strategy follows the so-called "Venezuela model," referring to the military intervention in January 2026 that ousted Nicolás Maduro, which was also preceded by sanctions and criminal charges against his leadership.
Torres Rivera acknowledged that the crisis faced by the Cuban people is devastating. The energy blockade ordered by Trump through an executive order on January 29, 2026, has caused blackouts of up to 20 hours a day, shortages of food, gasoline, kerosene, and medicines.
"What is happening now is tough," he said. "It's heartbreaking."
The Secretary of State Marco Rubio has rejected the notion that the crisis is the responsibility of the U.S. and attributes it to the socialist policies of the regime.
Last week, before Congress, he was direct: "I really don't believe this system can reform itself unless new people take control or a new mindset is imposed."
The Cuban diplomat indicated that recent conversations between officials from both countries have been "professional and respectful," but emphasized that Havana will not accept changes imposed from abroad.
"We want to make sure that the only changes to the system are made by us," he stated.
Raúl Castro, at 95 years, cannot be extradited as there is no extradition treaty between Cuba and the U.S., which means the accusation is primarily symbolic in effect, although the Trump administration has used it as part of its maximum pressure campaign against the regime.
Filed under: