Cuba defends 'legitimate' right to defense as US weighs alleged drone threat

HAVANA (AFP) — In a firm assertion of national sovereignty, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel declared Monday that the island nation possesses an "absolute and legitimate right to defend itself against a military onslaught." This statement comes in direct response to claims by US intelligence sources, as reported by Axios, alleging that Cuba has acquired more than 300 military drones from Russia and Iran with the intent to potentially attack US targets, including the Guantanamo Bay base, naval vessels, and even Florida.

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the absolute and legitimate right to defend itself against a military onslaught

While President Diaz-Canel did not directly address the specific drone accusation, his words underscored Cuba's determination to protect itself. He cautioned that such claims could be used as a pretext for war, stating, "Yet that cannot be wielded, logically or honestly, as an excuse for imposing war on the noble Cuban people." The Cuban government has consistently accused Washington of fabricating pretexts for intervention, particularly after implementing a severe fuel blockade aimed at crippling the island's economy.

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Yet that cannot be wielded, logically or honestly, as an excuse for imposing war on the noble Cuban people

The timing of these allegations is significant, occurring shortly after a visit by CIA Director John Ratcliffe to Havana and amidst reports that the Trump administration is seeking to indict Raul Castro. This heightened pressure, including the halting of oil shipments from Venezuela and threats of tariffs, has exacerbated Cuba's severe humanitarian and energy crisis, leading to frequent blackouts. The island's receipt of humanitarian aid from Mexico highlights its ongoing struggle for resources.

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a US attack would “trigger a bloodbath with incalculable consequences”

From Havana's perspective, these US accusations are part of a long-standing pattern of hostility and economic warfare. The narrative presented here is one of a small nation defending its right to exist free from external aggression, while facing a powerful adversary that employs economic strangulation and thinly veiled threats. The international community, particularly Western media, often frames such events through a lens of geopolitical tension, potentially overlooking the lived realities of the Cuban people enduring these pressures.

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Cuba “poses no threat” to the United States or any other country