Miguel Díaz-Canel stated that millions of Cubans are willing to die for the revolution and dismissed any fear of facing the same fate as Nicolás Maduro, in an interview granted to journalist Mônica Bergamo of the Brazilian newspaper Folha de São Paulo.
The most striking statement emerged when the journalist asked her why Cuba would not face the same risk as Venezuela following Maduro's capture on January 3rd.
"What can prevent something like this from happening in Cuba is related to our history, to the way our people are united with the revolution (...) There will be no surprises here," he assured.
"Since 32 gave their lives in Venezuela, what wouldn't millions of Cubans do to defend the revolution? Why is that not credible to some people in the world?" responded the leader, referencing the 32 Cuban soldiers who died during the U.S. operation in Caracas.
Regarding his own fear of being captured by enemy forces, Díaz-Canel was unequivocal: "If it happens, it happens, but it won't be with weakness, it won't be with cowardice, it will be fighting, fighting."
The interview is the latest in a series of international media appearances in 2026 -NBC in April, elDiario.es in June- in which the leader repeats an almost identical script: a challenge to Washington, denial of internal responsibility, and rhetoric of resistance.
In the same conversation, Díaz-Canel acknowledged the devastating figures of the humanitarian crisis affecting the Cuban population, although he attributed it entirely to the sanctions imposed by the Trump administration.
According to his own words, in the last seven months only one oil tanker entered Cuba—100,000 tons of Russian crude as humanitarian aid—when the country needs seven ships per month.
The ruler listed some of the consequences of the lack of fuel in the healthcare sector: over 64,000 children with outdated vaccination schedules, more than 34,000 pregnant women without access to ultrasounds, doubled infant mortality rates, a surgical waiting list of over 98,000 patients, and more than 117,000 cancer patients without primary oncological treatment. Additionally, Cuba can only cover 30% of its essential medication needs.
However, Díaz-Canel omitted to mention decades of poor energy management, structural dependence on Venezuelan oil, and systemic corruption that preceded the current sanctions. He also did not take responsibility for the collapse of the electrical system, which has accumulatedseven nationwide blackouts in 2026 and a record generation deficit.
When the journalist pointed out that Cubans themselves refer to an "internal blockade" to describe the bureaucracy and inefficiency of the government, he flatly rejected it. This contrasts with what he himself admitted to the Central Committee of the Communist Party in June: that "there are obstacles that do not come from outside or from the blockade."
Regarding the protests, he justified the repression by stating that the United States "pays people to promote social claims in Cuba" that end in "vandalic acts," thereby presenting dissent as a product of foreign subversion rather than a legitimate expression of popular discontent.
Díaz-Canel also denied that the 176 economic measures approved in June -which expand the private sector, allow private banking, and relax foreign investment- are capitalist reforms, labeling them as "necessary concessions during the transition period."
When asked how long Cuba can endure without an agreement with the United States, he replied without hesitation: "We have no other alternative but to resist. We have to resist."
He indicated that he has two years left in office and three years at the helm of the Party, and he closed the interview with a phrase that summarizes the regime's stance in the face of the collapse suffered by the Cuban people: "Here we are, standing strong, fighting without giving up. Without giving up, without making concessions to the United States."
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