Cuba warns of ‘bloodbath’ as US sanctions intelligence agency amid drone tensions
President Miguel Diaz-Canel asserts the island’s right to self-defence as diplomatic friction intensifies over an oil blockade and alleged military stockpiling.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has warned that any United States attack on the island would trigger a “bloodbath with incalculable consequences,” as Washington imposed fresh sanctions on Havana’s intelligence apparatus and senior government officials. The escalation marks a significant deterioration in relations, with the US Treasury targeting Cuba’s main intelligence agency, nine Cuban nationals, and several top Communist Party officials and generals.
The punitive measures follow reports from US news site Axios, which cited unnamed US intelligence officials stating that Havana has acquired over 300 military drones from Russia and Iran. The report suggests the Cuban government is considering using these assets against US targets, including the Guantanamo Bay naval base, US military vessels, and potentially locations in Florida. Diaz-Canel, writing on X, maintained that Cuba “poses no threat” to the United States but insisted the island retains the “absolute and legitimate right to defend itself against a military onslaught.”
Cuban Ambassador to the United Nations, Ernesto Soberon Guzman, reinforced this stance in New York, telling AFP that Havana would fight back against any invasion. He drew parallels to the 1960s, noting that previous US attempts to invade had been defeated, and asserted that the will of the Cuban people remains unchanged despite the evolving geopolitical landscape.
The sanctions come against a backdrop of severe economic strain driven by an oil blockade exacerbated by halted shipments from Venezuela, Cuba’s primary fuel supplier. This restriction has contributed to a critical energy crisis on the island, resulting in frequent blackouts. The Cuban government has accused Washington of attempting to create a pretext for military intervention by strangling the economy through a crippling fuel blockade.
Diplomatic tensions have further heightened following a recent visit to Havana by CIA Director John Ratcliffe for negotiations, and reports that the Trump administration is seeking to indict 94-year-old former President Raul Castro. Amidst this pressure, Cuba received a 1,700-ton shipment of humanitarian aid from Mexico on Monday, transported by a merchant vessel under a Panamanian flag, carrying essential supplies including powdered milk and beans for vulnerable populations.
