Cuba warns of “bloodbath” if US launches military action

Miguel Díaz Canel, Cuba’s president, has warned that any military action by the United States against Cuba would lead to a “bloodbath”, as tensions between Havana and Washington continue to rise.

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In a strongly worded statement posted on social media on Monday, the Cuban president said the island was not seeking conflict and posed no threat to any country, but insisted Cuba had the right to defend itself if attacked.

“The threats of military aggression against Cuba from the world’s greatest power are well known,” Díaz Canel said. “The threat itself already constitutes an international crime. If it were to materialise, it would trigger a bloodbath with incalculable consequences, plus the destructive impact on regional peace and stability.”

His remarks came after a report by Axios claimed, citing classified intelligence, that Cuba had amassed more than 300 drones and could potentially target United States military facilities or the state of Florida. The report has been met with widespread scepticism, with critics questioning both the claims and the timing of the disclosure.

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The latest exchange adds to months of escalating rhetoric between Havana and the administration of Donald Trump. Trump officials have repeatedly hinted at tougher measures against the Cuban government, including the possibility of military action and an expanded energy blockade.

According to Al Jazeera, the pressure campaign has deepened Cuba’s economic hardship, worsening fuel shortages and contributing to nationwide blackouts in a country already struggling under decades of United States sanctions and domestic political repression.

On Monday, Washington announced fresh sanctions targeting Cuba’s intelligence directorate, though analysts say the move may have limited practical impact given that the island has been under a sweeping US trade embargo since the 1960s.
Inside Cuba, reactions to the growing tensions have ranged from fatigue and frustration to open defiance.

“I know Cuba is a strong country. Cubans are very brave, and they are not going to find us unprepared,” 57-year-old Sandra Roseaux told Reuters.

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“If they come, they will have to fight, because Cuba will respond. My country, hungry or however it may be, will respond. It is better that they do not come because there will be a fight.”

For many Cubans, the renewed standoff with Washington has revived fears of deeper instability at a time when the country is already facing severe economic pressure, food shortages and an uncertain future.