Carlos Fernández de Cossío, Cuba's Deputy Foreign Minister, confirmed that the country is considering the possibility of a U.S. military attack and has taken measures to keep its military on high alert. In an interview with NBC News, de Cossío stated, "Our army is always ready. We are currently preparing for a possible reaction to any military aggression, although we hope that won't happen."
The Cuban minister expressed that there are no hostile gatherings from Cuba towards the United States, asserting that the country has the right to defend itself. He explained, "We are always ready to sit at the negotiation table to find solutions that benefit both parties."
These statements come at a critical time as Cuba is striving to restore power to the country after a total blackout in recent days. In this context, the state electric union and the Ministry of Energy and Mines reported that electricity has returned to around 72,000 subscribers in the capital, Havana, leaving out most of the city's approximately two million residents.
Cuba is facing an unprecedented energy crisis, as its deteriorating electricity network suffers from repeated failures. The latest blackout occurred after the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, considered a key ally of Cuba and a major oil supplier. The U.S. blockade on energy resources has exacerbated the situation, leading to frequent power outages in many areas.
In his remarks, de Cossío noted that the country is taking proactive measures to face the challenges, stating: "We hope for fuel to reach Cuba one way or another, and we wish this U.S. blockade would end; it will not last forever."
Cuba is suffering from severe issues that have intensified power outages, negatively impacting citizens' lives, particularly concerning concerns over food spoilage in refrigerators. The economic crisis is evident in the acute shortage of energy supplies, with Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel stating that the island has not received any oil shipments over the past three months, relying on local production that covers only 40% of its needs.
The policies of former U.S. President Donald Trump encouraged tariffs on countries supplying oil to Cuba, threatening to apply more pressure on the island. With the deteriorating situation and power outages, Trump had previously stated that he believed he was close to "regaining control of Cuba." However, these tensions remain complicated by a range of geopolitical issues.
The Cuban issue is inseparable from other crises affecting various regions in the Middle East, where the model of blockade and constant talk of military attacks remain prominent features in the political landscape of international relations.
It is evident that Cuba's crisis represents a real collision point between global powers and requires an integrated strategy that considers international variables, which may be similar to the challenges faced by Cuba's friends in the region, such as those experienced by Arab nations due to international sanctions and internal conflicts.
These crises have contributed to reshaping international political dynamics, necessitating from countries concerned with Cuban affairs to pay attention to the fate of the Cuban people and how the international community can help improve humanitarian conditions there.