The permanent representative of Cuba to the UN, Ernesto Soberón Guzmán, used the Russian state agency TASS this Monday to send a warning message to Washington: Havana takes the possibility of a U.S. military operation against the island "very seriously" and is preparing to confront it.
In the interview given to TASS, Soberón stated that "we must be prepared for any scenario, including a military one," and linked that preparation to statements from high-ranking officials of the U.S. administration regarding the possibility of "taking, bombing, or destroying Cuba."
The diplomat explained that every Friday in Cuba is dedicated to a day of defense to prepare the population for potential aggression and to protect the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of the country.
The statements come days after the Moncada Strategic Exercise 2026, held on November 4 and 5 with the participation of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, the Ministry of the Interior, militias, reservists, and civil structures under the doctrine of "Total People's War."
During those maneuvers, the Chief of the General Staff, General Roberto Legrá Sotolongo, warned that Cuba would defend the country "house by house, neighborhood by neighborhood, area by area."
The Cuban government had declared 2026 as the "Year of Preparation for Defense," and the Moncada exercise was the largest military deployment of the year, with troop mobilization across various provinces of the country.
Despite the belligerent tone, Soberón assured that Cuba does not seek an armed confrontation. Havana remains open to dialogue with Washington, provided it is based on mutual respect and non-interference.
Additionally, he rejected the notion that Cuba's cooperation with Russia and other countries poses a threat to the United States. He stated that these ties aim for mutual benefits and contribute to the economic development of the island.
Regarding the foreign military presence on the island, Soberón stated that "there are no other foreign military installations aside from the U.S. naval base in Guantánamo," which remains there "against the will" of the Cuban people.
The diplomat recalled that over the past ten months, Cuba has engaged in discussions with representatives from the State Department, the FBI, the CIA, and the United States Southern Command, despite the tensions between the two governments.
This is not the first time Soberón has turned to TASS. In May, he gave an interview to the same agency in which he invoked the right to legitimate defense in the face of a potential U.S. armed aggression.
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