HAVANA (Dispatches) - Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has announced that his country is preparing for the possibility of a U.S. military attack, following remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump that were widely interpreted as a threat.
Díaz-Canel said that Cuba “does not attack or threaten any nation” but will reject any foreign military aggression. He called on Washington to end the “genocidal blockade”, which is how Havana describes the U.S. embargo, and to stop the collective punishment of Cubans.
He said recent statements by U.S. officials and politicians encourage a military attack, and that Cuba has therefore activated wartime structures to work in peacetime. He added that the UN General Assembly, the world body’s main forum of all member states, has repeatedly voted against the embargo, which has lasted more than six decades.
We are determined to repel any attempt to launch foreign military aggression against our country, Díaz-Canel said, stressing that Cuba is a peaceful country and poses no threat to U.S. national security.
Earlier on Thursday, Trump was asked by radio host Hugh Hewitt whether he was considering military intervention to liberate Cuba. He replied: I want to get Cuba wrapped up before I leave office.
Polymarket, a crypto-based prediction exchange, priced “U.S. military action against Cuba by 31 December” at 8.5% on Saturday 14 November at about 09:30 Eastern Time, with about $7.7 million traded. A separate market on a full U.S. invasion of Cuba in 2026 stood at 2.3%, with about $3.7 million traded.
Americans with family or business ties to Cuba face a longer period of tension rather than one decision point. Travel rules, remittance channels and flights to Havana are set in Washington and Havana.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in a meeting with his Cuban counterpart in said that the country would firmly support Cuba in safeguarding national sovereignty and in opposing sanctions, blockades and external interference “no matter how circumstances evolve.”
“China is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with Cuba in multilateral affairs, continue supporting and cooperating with each other in multilateral forums, and jointly oppose power politics and unilateral actions,” Wang said, according to the official Chinese summary of the meeting.