Cuba’s president warns US against attacking island or trying to depose him

13/04/2026

Cuba’s president warns US against attacking island or trying to depose him

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel delivers a welcome speech to participants of the 'Nuestra America,' or Our America Convoy at the Convention Palace in Havana, Cuba, on March 20. (AP)

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, April 13, (AP): Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said the US has no valid reason to carry out a military attack against the island or to attempt to depose him.

Speaking in an interview on NBC News’ Meet the Press program, the president said an invasion of Cuba would be costly and affect regional security. But should it happen, Díaz-Canel said, Cubans would defend themselves.

"If the time comes, I don’t think there would be any justification for the United States to launch a military aggression against Cuba, or for the US to undertake a surgical operation or the kidnapping of a president,” Díaz-Canel said, speaking through a translator.

He added: "If that happens, there will be fighting, and there will be a struggle, and we will defend ourselves, and if we need to die, we’ll die, because as our national anthem says, ‘Dying for the homeland is to live'.”

His comments come as tensions between Cuba and the US remain high despite both sides acknowledging talks, although no details have been shared. Díaz-Canel has accused the US government of implementing a "hostile policy” against Cuba and said it has "no moral to demand anything from Cuba.”

He noted that Cuba is interested in engaging in dialogue and discussing any topic without conditions, "not demanding changes from our political system as we are not demanding change from the American system, about which we have a number of doubts.”

Cuba blames a US energy blockade for its deepening woes, with a lack of petroleum affecting the island’s health system, public transportation and the production of goods and services.

Cuba produces only 40% of the fuel it consumes, and it stopped receiving key oil shipments from Venezuela after the US military attacked the South American country in early January, seized President Nicolás Maduro and took him to New York to face drug trafficking charges. Then, with cooperation from ruling party leaders, the Trump administration began implementing a phased plan to end Venezuela’s entrenched crisis.