Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez delivered a forceful condemnation of escalating United States aggression against his nation during an extraordinary session of Havana’s Provincial Party Committee on Friday. The First Secretary of Cuba’s Communist Party Central Committee characterized recent U.S. actions as part of a coordinated campaign to destabilize the island nation through economic warfare and military threats.
Díaz-Canel specifically referenced Thursday’s executive order by former President Donald Trump imposing tariff sanctions on oil suppliers to Cuba, describing it as a malicious attempt to ‘deprive us of fuel, something necessary for any country to develop its economy.’ He framed this within a broader pattern of aggression that began with January’s invasion of Venezuela and the ‘kidnapping’ of its legitimate leadership.
The Cuban leader presented a detailed analysis of what he termed the ‘Trump corollary to the Monroe Doctrine’—a policy of imposing peace through force that he argued consistently produces chaos rather than stability. He drew direct parallels between current U.S. foreign policy and historical fascism, stating that ‘the president of the Empire is behaving like Hitler, with a criminal policy of contempt that aims to take over the world.’
Díaz-Canel emphasized Cuba’s resilience despite decades of pressure, noting that even Trump had indirectly acknowledged the nation’s endurance by stating that ‘not much more pressure can be exerted’ against Cuba. This admission, argued the President, effectively debunks the narrative of Cuba as a ‘failed state’ and confirms that the country’s economic challenges stem primarily from external pressure rather than internal failures.
The address highlighted Cuba’s preparation for potential military confrontation, referencing the heroic resistance of 32 Cuban combatants who died opposing the U.S. invasion of Venezuela on January 3. ‘The Empire has to calculate what an attack on Cuba would cost it,’ warned Díaz-Canel, emphasizing that the nation’s military, government, and united population remain prepared to confront any aggression with determination.
Despite the escalating tensions, the Cuban president reaffirmed his nation’s commitment to peaceful dialogue conducted ‘on equal terms, with respect, and without preconditions.’ He announced plans to pursue international complaints against the latest coercive measures through global forums while continuing to work with allied nations and the international community.