Overview
- President Miguel Díaz‑Canel said Cuba is preparing to reject any foreign military aggression and pointed to last week’s nationwide Ejercicio Estratégico Moncada as evidence the island’s defense readiness is strengthening.
- On November 12, President Donald Trump told Salem News Channel he would “consider” using military force and wants to “leave resolved” the Cuba issue before 2029, and the U.S. government has not announced any approved military operation.
- Havana publicly demanded an end to the U.S. economic blockade, calling recent sanctions and fuel restrictions a form of collective punishment that has worsened Cuba’s economic and energy crisis since January 2026.
- Cuban authorities have run repeated Día Nacional de la Defensa drills across the island to raise civilian and military preparedness but have not disclosed new troop deployments or operational changes.
- Analysts say the confrontation builds on Washington’s 2026 intervention in Venezuela and domestic U.S. politics in Florida, and continued fuel curbs or tougher sanctions could intensify hardship for Cuban civilians and raise regional tensions.