Cuba warns US of bloodbath' if military action follows drone claims

"Cuba’s president, Miguel Diaz-Canel, has warned that any US military action against his country would lead to a bloodbath with incalculable consequences for regional peace and stability. Cuba does not represent a threat, Diaz-Canel said in a post on X."

"Foreign minister, Bruno Rodriguez, in a separate post, said Cuba, like every nation in the world, has the right to legitimate self-defense against external aggression under the UN charter and international law. He also said those seeking to attack Cuba use false pretexts to justify it."

"The comments follow an Axios report published on Sunday, citing classified intelligence that claimed Cuba had acquired more than 300 military drones and had discussed plans to use them to attack the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay, US military vessels and Key West, Florida."

"Cuba has come under increasing strain since the United States cut off its energy supplies after arresting the president of its then-ally Venezuela in January. In recent weeks, fuel has run out and electricity is often available for only an hour or two a day. Tensions between the two countries have risen sharply in recent days."

Cuba’s president warned that any US military action would lead to a bloodbath with incalculable consequences for regional peace and stability. Cuba said it does not represent a threat and framed its position as self-defense under the UN charter and international law. Cuba also accused those seeking to attack it of using false pretexts. The warnings followed claims based on classified intelligence that Cuba acquired more than 300 military drones and discussed plans to attack US targets including Guantanamo Bay, US vessels, and Key West. Cuba faces severe strain after the United States cut off energy supplies, with fuel shortages and electricity available only briefly each day. Tensions have increased further amid reports that US prosecutors plan to indict former Cuban leader Raul Castro over the 1996 shooting down of two humanitarian planes.

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