The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carlos Fernández de Cossío, stated that the Cuban regime will not yield to pressures from the United States and that the island will maintain its sovereignty in the face of tightening sanctions, as he declared during an interview with Al Jazeera last Thursday from Havana, in a context marked by the deterioration of bilateral relations and the profound economic and energy crisis facing the island.
"Cuba will not accept less than what it enjoys today and what it conquered nearly 70 years ago: full sovereignty and the complete rights of the Cuban nation," warned the deputy foreign minister, a statement that summarizes the official position of the regime, which the Foreign Ministry highlighted this Monday on its account on the social network X.
Fernández de Cossío stated that the increase in pressure from Washington is due to two factors: the first, the foreign policy of the Donald Trump administration, which he described as "extremely hostile" and aimed at imposing its objectives through the use of military and economic power; and the second, the influence of the anti-Castro lobby in the United States, which he characterized as "a very small minority but with significant influence," that—according to him—has achieved an unprecedented level of access to U.S. foreign policy and seeks to impose its agenda regarding Cuba.
The deputy foreign minister stated that since early 2026, Washington has imposed around 250 sanctions against the island and described this policy as an “economic war” aimed at “making life unbearable for the Cuban people through collective punishment.”
The interview took place just one day after the United States announced a new round of sanctions against nine entities and two Cuban officials, aimed at the energy sector, alleged operations to evade restrictions by GAESA, and the medical missions program.
Dialogue without progress
Regarding the current status of conversations between the two countries, Fernández de Cossío confirmed that there is a communication channel initiated by Washington and accepted by Havana, although he insisted that the Cuban government does not view it as a formal negotiation.
"The dialogue has not progressed much because the United States remains attached to the mistaken belief that they can impose their conditions on Cuba and extract concessions regarding our political and constitutional system," he pointed out.
His statements align with those made on July 1 by the chancellor Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, who acknowledged that the dialogue “shows no progress,” and with those of the prime minister Manuel Marrero Cruz, who confirmed that the negotiating team operates with the support of Raúl Castro and Miguel Díaz-Canel.
"None of those options are acceptable."
When asked about the possibility that U.S. pressures might evolve into a scenario similar to that of Puerto Rico or what happened in Venezuela following the capture of Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces in January 2026, the diplomat replied that “none of those options are acceptable for Cuba.”
He also warned that any potential U.S. military action "will not be easy" and could result in a "bloodbath," with casualties on both the Cuban and American sides.
Regarding a possible international mediation, he noted that both governments can communicate directly through their embassies, although he did not rule out the involvement of a third country that, in his opinion, respects international law and the sovereignty of Cuba.
On the same Thursday of the interview, Fernández de Cossío also reacted to the new sanctions announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, describing them as "an open war against the entire people," amid a new escalation of tensions between Havana and Washington.
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