In a recent interview, Cuba’s Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio addressed the nation’s heightened military preparedness amid ongoing tensions with the United States. He emphasized that while Cuba is taking steps to prepare for potential military aggression, it harbors “no quarrel” with Washington. “Our military is always prepared. And in fact it is preparing these days for the possibility of military aggression,” he stated, expressing hope that such a scenario will be avoided.
Fernandez de Cossio indicated that Cuba’s defensive measures stem from a fundamental right to self-protection, underscoring a willingness for dialogue with the U.S. “We do have the need and the right to protect ourselves. But we are willing to sit down,” he said.
The comments came during a trying time for the island nation, which faced challenges restoring power after experiencing its second nationwide blackout in less than a week. These blackouts are attributed to the aging infrastructure and a persistent oil blockade imposed by the U.S. government. These disruptions have exacerbated the already difficult living conditions for many Cubans.
The situation has grown increasingly dire following the capture of Venezuela’s socialist leader Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces earlier this year, which has severely affected Cuba’s access to oil supplies. In light of this, Fernandez de Cossio expressed a proactive stance in dealing with the crisis, adding, “We do hope that fuel will reach Cuba one way or the other and that this boycott that the United States has been imposing does not last and cannot be sustained forever.”
As of early Sunday, power had been restored to some parts of Havana, but many areas remained without electricity following a “total disconnection” of the national electric grid. This widespread outage, the seventh such incident since 2024, has heightened concerns among the population, particularly regarding food spoilage in refrigerators and other daily challenges.
The economic impact of the blockade has been significant, with U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly threatening to impose additional tariffs on countries that supply oil to Cuba. The loss of oil imports since January 9 has severely hampered the power sector and led airlines to reduce flight services to the island, impacting the vital tourism industry. Amid these pressing challenges, the Cuban leadership continues to navigate a complex geopolitical landscape while striving to meet the needs of its citizens.
