Cuba Rejects US Security Threat Claims as Washington Increases Pressure
The Cuban government has rejected accusations that it poses a security threat to the United States, saying it remains open to dialogue and constructive engagement with Washington amid rising tensions between the two countries.
In a statement issued on Monday, Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the country does not support terrorism and called for respectful and lawful cooperation based on mutual interests and international law.
The response followed renewed pressure from the administration of US President Donald Trump, which has moved to restrict oil supplies to Cuba after the abduction of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro last month. The incident has sharply escalated tensions across the region.
Trump said on Sunday that diplomatic contacts with Havana had resumed and claimed his administration was engaging senior figures in the Cuban government. He also suggested that Cuba was struggling economically following the collapse of oil supplies from Venezuela.
Venezuela had been Cuba’s main energy supplier, but oil deliveries have largely stopped since the removal of Maduro. The United States has also been intercepting Venezuelan oil shipments in the Caribbean, a move criticised by observers as an effective blockade.
Cuba maintained close economic and security ties with the former Venezuelan government, and nearly 50 Cuban soldiers were reported killed during the operation that led to Maduro’s abduction.
The Trump administration has also pressured Mexico to halt oil exports to Cuba, raising concerns that a full energy blockade could trigger a serious humanitarian crisis on the island.
Washington has accused Havana of aligning with hostile global powers and last week described Cuba as an unusual and extraordinary threat to US national security. Cuba rejected the claims, saying it does not host foreign military or intelligence bases and operates a zero-tolerance policy toward terrorism financing and money laundering.
Relations between the two countries have remained strained since Cuba’s 1959 revolution, and Trump previously reinstated Cuba on the US list of state sponsors of terrorism during his first term.
The Cuban government said it remains committed to peaceful coexistence and cooperation, while Pope Leo expressed concern over the growing tensions and urged all parties to pursue sincere dialogue to prevent further suffering for the Cuban people
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