Relations between the two countries have become considerably strained since January. The United States imposed a de facto oil blockade on the island and issued new sanctions against Cuban companies and leaders.
American Defense Minister Pete Hegseth warned the Cuban government on Wednesday June 9 against acquiring weapons that could threaten the United States, during a visit to the American military base at Guantánamo, located on the Caribbean island.
“The future of Cuba is in the hands (…) of the President of the United States and the government of Cuba”
“It would not be prudent for the government of Cuba to try to procure or have access to the types of weapons that could reach this base or American territory,” he told soldiers on site.
Relations between the two countries have become considerably strained since January. The United States imposed a de facto oil blockade on the island, issued new sanctions against Cuban companies and leaders, and indicted former President Raul Castro in a case dating back to 1996.
“The future of Cuba is in the hands (…) of the president of the United States and the government of Cuba,” said Pete Hegseth, dressed for a physical training session with American troops.
“The future of Cuba – a sovereign and independent country – belongs solely and exclusively to the Cuban people and government. Anyone (…) who thinks that the future of Cuba is in other hands is completely and absolutely wrong”, reacted on X the Cuban ambassador to the UN, Ernesto Soberon, to the address of the American minister.
Donald Trump considers that Cuba is “an extraordinary threat”
Donald Trump believes that the island, located about 150 kilometers from the coast of Florida, represents “an extraordinary threat” to the national security of the United States, and he has several times threatened to “take control” of it.
US media reported last month that Cuba had acquired more than 300 military drones and was discussing plans to use them against the Guantanamo base, US ships, and even US territory.
At the end of May, General Francis Donovan, head of the American military command for Latin America and the Caribbean (Southcom), met with the Cuban chief of staff, General Roberto Legra Sotolongo, to discuss “security issues operational”, according to Southcom.
Two weeks earlier, CIA boss John Ratcliffe had visited Havana and met with Cuban officials.
After his trip to Guantánamo, the head of the Pentagon went to Tampa, Florida, to meet the American Military Command for the Middle East (Centcom), whose headquarters are in this southern state.
Pete Hegseth repeated Donald Trump’s remarks to the military on site, assuring that if Iran “does not reach an agreement, we are going to hit them hard”.
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