The President of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, has urged the Government of the United States to remove the economic blockade that weighs on the island and dismantle the measures that, in his view, amount to collective punishment for Cuban citizens. At the same time, he has warned that the country is ready to respond to any attempt at military aggression coming from abroad.
"What the US can and must do is put an end to the genocidal blockade, end collective punishment, and let this people live in peace," Díaz-Canel said in a message shared through his social networks. "Cuba does not attack or threaten any nation, but we will reject any attempt at foreign military aggression and for that danger we are preparing," he added.
The Cuban leader criticized that in the last few weeks the statements by political officials of the US Administration have multiplied which, in his assessment, help to reinforce and encourage the idea of a possible military intervention in Cuba. In this context, he has reiterated that Washington must put an end to what he has described as "genocidal aggression" against the island’s population.
Díaz-Canel’s warnings come after his US counterpart, Donald Trump, said this Thursday in an interview that he would study the option of launching a brief military offensive against Cuba before leaving the White House. Trump has reiterated on several occasions that the island "will fall" and has suggested that it could be Washington’s next target once operations against Iran conclude.
Amid this climate of growing tension, Cuban authorities have carried out in the last few weeks various military preparation exercises, integrated into the defense days that are being held across the national territory.