Casa Blanca rejected on Wednesday an interpretation of recent remarks by President Donald Trump that Cuba could be “the next” country to be attacked by the United States, framing the message instead as political pressure toward the Cuban government. Speaking during a press briefing in Washington, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the White House was not presenting any new rationale for military aggression and focused on Cuba’s vulnerability and the Cuban people’s frustration with their leadership.
Leavitt, asked about Trump’s comment that Cuba “would be the next” after addressing the case of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, said the U.S. message was that Cuba’s government was “destinado a caer” without an external intervention. She said the “país es muy débil,” adding that it is fragile in economic and financial terms, and she described Cuban public anger toward the government.
The White House also said that dialogue between the two governments has continued. Leavitt said the talks are ongoing “al más alto nivel de nuestro gobierno,” without providing details about the policy toward Cuba.
In Havana, the state newspaper Granma published responses from Díaz-Canel to an interview that the U.S. outlet Newsweek had run, addressing Cuba’s relations with the United States and the perception of a potential escalation. Díaz-Canel said: “Cuba no es un país de guerra. Es un país de paz que promueve la solidaridad y la cooperación. Pero Cuba no teme a la guerra.” He added that Cuba’s defense doctrine is “la guerra de todo el pueblo,” and he described it as defensive rather than aggressive, with participation across “todo el pueblo.”
Díaz-Canel also told Newsweek, as quoted by Granma, that Cuba “no representa una amenaza para Estados Unidos,” and he referenced “extraordinaria e inusual” as language he said had been used to justify an executive order. He reiterated that the island is ready for conversations with its neighbor, but said any talks must occur with respect for Cuba’s sovereignty.
The dispute comes amid a period of heightened U.S.-Cuba tension earlier this year, according to the Associated Press report. The wire said the situation escalated after Trump deprived Cuba of Venezuelan oil and imposed what it described as a radical energy blockade, intensifying what Cuba has characterized as a deep economic and social crisis already strained by U.S. sanctions.
The AP report described the crisis as worsening for residents through prolonged power outages exceeding 12 hours, shortages of fuel and food, and paralysis affecting daily life on the island. It also said both nations acknowledged that they had held conversations but that no details about those discussions were made public.
Reporting by Collin Binkley in Washington and Andrea Rodríguez in Havana contributed to the story.