Cuba to Trump: We Will Fight ‘to the End’ If US Attacks
Miguel Diaz-Canel warns that the island’s people would resist any US military action after “decades of resistance,” as tensions continue to escalate with Washington ramping up sanctions and deploying naval assets in the Caribbean.
HAVANA — Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has issued a stark warning to the United States, declaring that the island’s people would “fight to the end” if Washington launches a military attack.
In a rare and forceful interview with ABC News on Saturday, Diaz-Canel framed Cuba not as an aggressor but as a country subjected to relentless pressure. When asked directly whether Cubans would fight back in the event of a US invasion, he responded: “Until the end.”
“Our people are prepared for decades of resistance because they have suffered from the hardships imposed by the blockade and sanctions, which are acts of war and aggression,” Diaz-Canel said, speaking through an interpreter. “The threat is there every day. We have to live under that threat daily.”
The comments come as President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to “liberate” Cuba, claiming the island nation is “the next logical step” following the US operation in Venezuela earlier this year . The Trump administration has imposed crippling energy sanctions, deployed warships off the coast, and secured an indictment against former president Raul Castro .
What Diaz-Canel Said
The Cuban president made several key points in his interview with ABC:
On the threat of war:
“Our people are ready to resist for decades, and we are prepared to fight to the end in the face of an invasion,” Diaz-Canel said.
On Cuba being a threat to the US:
“There is no threat from Cuba. The real threat against Cuba is from the United States,” he stated.
On the Trump administration’s narrative:
“The arrogance of the powerful United States government believes it is the master of the world, that it can impose its will through force, and that it has the right to decide the destinies of other peoples, their sovereignty, their independence and their freedom,” Diaz-Canel said.
The Cuban president also noted that his government has repeatedly sought diplomatic engagement with Washington, but such overtures have been met with escalating pressure rather than dialogue . “Every time we express an interest in building a civilized relationship, they tighten sanctions further,” he said .
The Cuban Defense Posture: Beyond the Military
While Cuba’s conventional military may be no match for the full force of the Pentagon, Diaz-Canel and other officials have stressed that the country’s defense rests on the preparedness of its civilian population. Recent weeks have seen a noticeable hardening of the official rhetoric and civil defense messaging.
According to a Reuters report from Havana, authorities have been activating neighborhood defense committees and holding public drills to prepare for potential attacks or a total economic collapse . The government has also published guides on food production during a siege, a sign that officials are trying to instill a siege mentality in the face of tightening US pressure .
“Every citizen is a soldier for the revolution when it comes to defending the homeland,” one official told Reuters, a sentiment echoed in the state-run media’s coverage of Diaz-Canel’s statements.
The US has significantly increased its military footprint in the Caribbean. The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz entered the region in May, along with guided missile destroyers, cruisers, and amphibious ships carrying thousands of Marines . The Pentagon has also stepped up intelligence and reconnaissance flights around the island .
US Accusations of ‘Malign Influence’
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has defended the administration’s hardline policy, arguing that the Castro regime poses an unacceptable risk to American national security.
“Having a failed state 90 miles from our shores is a threat to the national security of the United States,” Rubio told Fox News this week. “Their economy is entirely run by their military—the very military that shot down unarmed American civilians in international airspace.”
Rubio was referring to the 1996 shootdown of two unarmed civilian aircraft operated by the humanitarian group Brothers to the Rescue, an incident that killed four people and which led to the recent federal indictment of former president Raul Castro .
The US has also accused Cuba of hosting Russian and Chinese intelligence facilities used to monitor American military sites . Rubio stated this week that dismantling those sites is a “red line” for the White House.
A New Phase in the Standoff
For months, the Trump administration has tried to force the island’s leadership to capitulate using strict economic pressure. Since the US secured control of Venezuela’s oil assets in January, the flow of cheap crude to the island has stopped, plunging Cuba into a devastating energy crisis . The country has suffered near-total power blackouts, and most state workers have been forced into reduced schedules as fuel reserves have been depleted.
However, Diaz-Canel’s latest statement suggests that pressure has so far failed to break the government’s resolve. While critics argue that the regime is starving its people to stay in power, Diaz-Canel has instead presented the suffering as a badge of Cuban resilience against US aggression.
The Trump administration faces a strategic dilemma. The military assets needed for an invasion are largely in place, having shifted from the Middle East . However, many of these warships have been at sea for nearly a year, raising concerns about crew fatigue and overextension .
As the standoff continues, the message from Havana is clear: the Cubans are preparing for the worst. Diaz-Canel concluded his interview by reiterating the Cuban government’s preference for peace.
“We do not want war,” he said. “We want a civilized relationship with the United States. But we will not submit, and we will not surrender our sovereignty.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What did President Diaz-Canel say in response to US threats?
A: Diaz-Canel stated that Cuba would “fight to the end” if the United States launches a military attack. He also said “there is no threat from Cuba” and that “the real threat against Cuba is from the United States” .
Q2: Why are US-Cuba tensions escalating?
A: The Trump administration has ramped up pressure on Cuba through energy sanctions, an oil blockade, warship deployments, and the indictment of former president Raul Castro for the 1996 shootdown of civilian planes . The US also accuses Cuba of hosting Russian and Chinese intelligence facilities .
Q3: Is the US preparing to attack Cuba?
A: The Pentagon has positioned significant naval assets in the Caribbean, including the USS Nimitz carrier strike group, guided missile destroyers, and Marines . However, no final decision on military action has been announced, and the White House maintains that all options remain on the table .
Q4: How is Cuba preparing for a potential conflict?
A: Cuba has activated neighborhood defense committees, held public civil defense drills, and issued guides on food production during a siege . The government has framed these measures as preparation for “decades of resistance” against a more powerful adversary .
Q5: Could the US capture Cuba’s leadership like it did in Venezuela?
A: The US has the military capability for such an operation. However, analysts note key differences: Cuba has a long history of popular mobilization and guerrilla warfare, and any invasion would likely face fierce resistance and risk a “bloodbath,” as Diaz-Canel has warned .
This is a developing story. Reflecto News will continue to provide updates on US-Cuba tensions, the military buildup in the Caribbean, and any diplomatic developments.
