Recently, the United States has frequently issued military threats against Cuba, attempting to shake the Cuban regime. According to a report by Reuters on June 10th, U.S. Defense Secretary James Hagel visited a U.S. military base in Guantanamo, Cuba, on that day. He warned Cuba not to seek weapons that could be used against the United States, or else it would face "an confrontation that Cuba cannot afford."
Haghes spoke to the American soldiers at the Guantanamo base. He stated that U.S. President Trump hopes to become friends with the Cuban leadership "soon." "Let's wait and see, but the Department of Defense will provide the Commander in Chief (Trump) with all the emergency plans he needs."
Hagelseth threatened Cuba: “It is unwise for the Cuban government to acquire or attempt to acquire weapons that could be used against this base or the United States mainland. There is no country in the world that can match America’s strength. Such actions will only lead to confrontations they neither want nor can endure.”
In 1903, the United States forcibly leased part of the strategic area of Guantanamo Bay in southeastern Cuba and established a military base there. After the successful Cuban Revolution in 1959, the Cuban government has always opposed the existence of the U.S. military base in Guantanamo, refused to accept the rent paid by the U.S., and demanded that the U.S. forces withdraw. In 2002, the U.S. military established a prison on the Guantanamo base, which has been plagued by numerous incidents of prisoner abuse.
On June 10 local time, U.S. Defense Secretary Hagel visited the Guantanamo military base. IC photo
During Hagee's visit to the Guantanamo military base, the Trump administration imposed fuel supply embargoes on Cuba, exacerbating power outages and shortages of food and medical supplies in Cuba, thereby damaging the Cuban economy. The United States has also continuously increased its military activities in nearby waters, posing a military threat to Cuba.
On May 5th, local time, U.S. Secretary of State Rubio met with Commander of the Southern Command, Francis Donovan. Rubio then released a photo of the two together in front of a map of Cuba. He stated that the focus of this meeting was 'the efforts of the United States to address threats that undermine security, stability, and democracy in the Western Hemisphere'.
On May 20th, the United States charged Cuban revolutionary leader Raul Castro and five others with crimes such as ‘murder of four people and destruction of aircraft’ in connection with the incident where a Cuban exile plane was shot down in 1996.
Cuban President Raul Castro responded that this action is purely political and has no legal basis. Its purpose is merely to continue to fabricate false claims by the US side, in order to find excuses for absurd military aggression against Cuba. Analysts point out that the lawsuit against Castro is part of the US efforts to pressure Cuba, and it is also part of the Republican Party's strategy to win some voters in Florida before the mid-term elections this year.
On May 27th, the American 'Politico News Network' reported that after economic and political pressure failed to shake the Cuban regime, Trump has repeatedly proposed the idea of military invasion of Cuba. The U.S. Department of Defense has been preparing for a potential military strike against Cuba.
On June 4th, the U.S. Treasury Department issued a statement announcing that Diaz-Canel and other individuals and entities associated with them were added to the sanctions list. In response, Diaz-Canel said that the U.S. sanctions are aimed at strengthening the blockade against Cuba, and Cuba will resolutely resist imperialist aggression.
Michael Bustamante, the director of Cuban Studies at the University of Miami in the United States, said that during the highly tense relations between the US and Cuba, Hagersees’ visit to the US military base in Guantanamo may be an attempt to demonstrate America’s determination. “Perhaps Hagersees’ goal in this trip is to once again emphasize that the cost of not sitting at the negotiation table is facing American military measures.”
But Bustamante also pointed out that an increasing number of analysts are warning that military actions could lead to unpredictable and complex consequences.
Facing the military threats from the United States, Cuba is also preparing. In an interview published by the Los Angeles Times on May 27, Carlos Fernández de Cozio, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, said: "Our generation has grown up in response to American military aggression. This threat has always existed. If it is necessary to defend our country, we are ready to pay the greatest price."
On May 28th, Cuban Foreign Minister Rodríguez shared an interview with American media. He stated that the United States demonstrated 'great inconsistency and irresponsibility'. 'Their behavior during negotiations was one thing, but the public statements made by American officials were full of hostility.'
Rodriguez emphasized that Cuba will do everything possible to avoid military escalation, but it will defend its independence. If Cuba is attacked, it will have to defend itself. A war between the two countries would lead to a humanitarian disaster.
