The government of Cuba stated that the country is prepared for any possible military attack by the Estados Unidos, while the island faces a serious energy crisis worsened by the oil blockade imposed by Washington. The vice minister of Relações Exteriores, Carlos Fernández of Cossío, declared that the nation historically mobilizes as a whole in the event of external aggression. Ele emphasized that, although it considers an armed confrontation unlikely, the country cannot be naive and ignore the necessary preparations.
The statements took place on Sunday, in an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press program, one day after the second national blackout in less than a week. The collapse of the electrical grid left millions of inhabitants without power supply, highlighting the vulnerability of Cuba’s infrastructure. The oil blockade, intensified after the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro at the beginning of the year, prevented the arrival of fuel three months ago.
President Donald Trump threatened to take control of Cuba, stating that it would be an “honor” to take the island and that he could do “anything” with the country. Ele intensified economic pressure by warning oil exporters of high tariffs if they continue to supply the Caribbean territory. Cuba produces only around 40% of the fuel needed for its economy, which has worsened external dependence.
Official statements from Havana
Vice Minister Fernández of Cossío denied any discussion of changing the Cuban government system during recent dialogues with Washington. Ele classified a change in the political structure as “absolutely” out of the question. Talks between the parties were described as serious and responsible, starting at the beginning of the month.
Cuba maintains that it poses no threat to the Estados Unidos. The official reinforced that the country seeks peaceful solutions, but does not rule out defensive preparations in light of the international scenario. The nation’s historical mobilization was cited as the basis for the current stance.
Crisis in the national electrical system
União Elétrica reported that Saturday’s blackout resulted from the unexpected stoppage of a generating unit at the Nuevitas thermoelectric plant, Camagüey province. The failure caused a total disconnection from the network, affecting the entire island. Equipes immediately began restoration efforts.
In the capital Havana, around 72 thousand customers recovered their supply on Sunday morning, including five hospitals. Esse number represents only part of the city’s population of approximately two million inhabitants. Muitos residents continued to face prolonged outages.
The Cuban electrical system operates with old infrastructure and faces daily outages of several hours in different regions. The lack of fuel for thermoelectric plants has worsened the problem in recent months. Esse was the third national blackout in March 2026.
Position of the US Comando Sul
General Francis Donovan, head of the Comando Sul of the Troops remain ready to protect the embassy at Havana, defend the base at Baía of Guantánamo, and assist in the event of mass migration if necessary.
Donovan highlighted that there are no active preparations for offensive military action against the island. The statement took place at a hearing on Senado, amid growing tensions in the region. The US remains focused on threats to the security of its interests in América Latina.
Refuses the import of diesel
Cuban authorities refused a request from the American embassy in Havana to import diesel intended for generators at the diplomatic representation. The decision came in response to the oil blockade affecting the island’s general supply. Dois American officials reported the episode to Associated Press.
The measure reflects Havana’s stance of not accepting exceptions that could be seen as partial relief to the embargo. The government prioritizes internal solutions and broad negotiations to resolve the energy crisis. The refusal occurred on Saturday, during blackout recovery efforts.
Context of economic pressure
The oil blockade intensified after the removal of Nicolás Maduro from power at Venezuela, the main fuel supplier to Cuba. Sem external imports three months ago, the Cuban economy operates with limited resources. President Miguel Díaz-Canel confirmed the absence of foreign supplies.
The energy infrastructure, already obsolete, suffered frequent collapses. Apagões long periods impact hospitals, industries and homes on a daily basis. Autoridades Cuban women attribute the situation directly to the restrictive measures imposed by the Estados Unidos.
The country faces challenges in reestablishing normal electricity supply. Equipes techniques work on the gradual reconnection of plants and transmission lines. The population deals with interruptions that affect daily life in several provinces.
