Havana Warns of a 'Bloodbath' as Washington Weighs Military Options

Cuba's foreign minister says a superpower has no justification for attacking a small island that threatens no one, as sanctions and a fuel blockade deepen the crisis

Cuba’s foreign minister has warned that a US invasion would trigger a “bloodbath,” as Havana condemns Washington’s mounting economic and political pressure and argues that recent sanctions and security measures are worsening tensions between the two countries and threatening regional stability.

Reiterating his position, the minister said that beyond certain political actors in the United States who seek regime change in Havana, there is no legitimate reason for Washington to contemplate military action against Cuba. As a global superpower, he argued, the US has no justification for launching aggression against a small island nation that poses no threat to anyone.

Sanctions and a national emergency

On 29 January, Washington imposed tariffs on imports from countries that supply oil to Cuba and declared a national emergency, citing an alleged threat from the island to US national security. Havana has repeatedly rejected that claim, arguing that the restrictions and energy-related measures amount to an economic blockade designed to squeeze the island and worsen living conditions for its population.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said on 3 May that US military pressure on Cuba had reached unprecedented levels, warning that any attack would be met with strong resistance and stressing the population’s determination to defend the country’s sovereignty and independence.

In a further tightening of economic restrictions, Washington imposed sanctions on Cuba’s GAESA conglomerate and on Moa Nickel. GAESA (Grupo de Administración Empresarial S.A.) was established in 1995 under former President Raúl Castro to generate revenue for the Cuban armed forces during the “Special Period in the Time of Peace,” the prolonged economic crisis that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Mounting international concern

The reported discussions of military action come amid growing international criticism of Washington’s sanctions and blockade policies. UN experts recently warned that the US fuel blockade risks deepening the humanitarian crisis on the island and undermining fundamental human rights.

Meanwhile, US media reports indicate that while military scenarios are under review, American officials say no immediate intervention has been approved.

Reference: Al-Mayadeen