Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel on Saturday condemned US President Donald Trump’s threats to “take over” Cuba, warning that Washington’s rhetoric has reached a “dangerous and unprecedented level.”
President Trump made the remarks during a speech in Florida, saying the United States would be “taking over” the island “almost immediately,” just hours after signing an executive order tightening sanctions on Havana.
Díaz-Canel responded by calling on the international community to take a clear stance, questioning whether such a “drastic criminal act” would be tolerated.
“No aggressor, however powerful, will find surrender in Cuba,” he said in a post on X.
Sanctions, protests, and rising pressure
The latest exchange comes amid escalating pressure on Cuba’s already strained economy, with the US maintaining a decades-long trade embargo and recently intensifying restrictions, including a fuel blockade.
Cuba, located just 145 kilometers (90 miles) from Florida, has faced renewed hardship as fuel supplies tighten and economic stagnation deepens.
On Friday, large crowds marched to the US Embassy in Havana during May Day demonstrations, denouncing Washington’s threats. Díaz-Canel and former leader Raúl Castro both took part in the rally.
Trump has repeatedly raised the idea of taking control of Cuba, a stance that is now fueling fresh tensions between the two longtime adversaries.
