DID Press: Amid escalating tensions with Washington, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel personally oversaw nationwide military exercises, emphasizing their “vital importance” in response to what he described as the United States’ “imperial aggression.” The drills were conducted under the supervision of senior military commanders, reflecting Havana’s determination to bolster national defense.
Last week, Cuba’s National Defense Council, chaired by Díaz-Canel, approved measures to implement a “wartime status,” according to state media reports, although specific details were not disclosed.
Tensions intensified following a recent U.S. attack on Venezuela, which triggered a new wave of verbal exchanges between Washington and Havana. During a memorial for Cuban soldiers killed in the Venezuelan incident, Díaz-Canel rejected any notion of “surrender or submission” to potential U.S. actions.
Meanwhile, U.S. officials are reportedly considering additional measures, including a “full oil blockade,” to pressure Havana, according to Politico. Díaz-Canel reiterated that Cuba will not negotiate with Washington on oil matters.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez criticized President Biden’s claims that cutting Venezuela’s oil flow to Cuba could make the country’s government “inevitable to collapse,” calling the statement evidence of a “fundamental misunderstanding of Cuba.” He affirmed that the Cuban people remain prepared to defend their national sovereignty at all costs.