Cuba warns it will defend itself amid rising tensions with US

Apr 19, 2026 at 07:24 AM

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Lanka Leader

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has declared that the island nation is prepared to defend itself against any potential aggression from the United States, stressing that while Cuba remains committed to peace, it is not intimidated by the prospect of war.

In an interview with RT on Saturday, Díaz-Canel said national defense has become a “top priority” following recent developments in Washington’s policy toward the Caribbean state.

Tensions have escalated since US President Donald Trump imposed an oil blockade on Cuba in February and suggested the possibility of regime change. Earlier this week, Trump also alluded to Cuba while commenting on the ongoing conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran, saying, “we may stop by Cuba after we’re finished with this.”

Responding to these remarks, Díaz-Canel emphasized that Cuba does not seek confrontation but would respond decisively if attacked.

“Cuba is not a country that calls for war or promotes it,” he said. “But we are also not afraid of war if we must wage it to defend our homeland.”

He added that any military action against the island would face significant resistance, pointing to Cuba’s defense doctrine of an “all-people’s war,” a strategy that envisions broad civilian participation in national defense.

Cuba, located just 150 kilometers off the coast of Florida, has long had a strained relationship with the United States, marked by decades of economic sanctions and political tensions. The latest developments signal a renewed period of uncertainty in ties between the two countries.