Cuba prepares for possible US retaliation following recent power outage

US President Trump Threatens Military Action Against Cuba

US President Donald Trump has made a statement threatening military action against Cuba, following a series of power outages and economic challenges imposed by the US oil embargo. Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio stated that his country is prepared for any potential attacks, citing its historical readiness to respond to military aggression.

The latest blackout, which affected approximately 72,000 customers in Havana, including five hospitals, occurred on Saturday. This is the second outage in the past week and the third in March. The Cuban Electric Union reported that the cause of the failure was an unexpected shutdown at a generation unit in Camaguey province.

US President Trump has been imposing an oil embargo on Cuba since early this year, following the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The country produces only 40% of its fuel needs and relies heavily on foreign suppliers. Trump has warned potential oil exporters that they could face high tariffs.

The Cuban government has responded to Trump’s threats by denying any intention to negotiate changes to its system or leadership. Deputy Foreign Minister Fernandez de Cossio stated that the nature, structure, or makeup of the Cuban government is not up for discussion in talks with Washington.

General Francis Donovan, head of the US Southern Command, told lawmakers at a Senate hearing that troops are not rehearsing for an invasion of Cuba and are instead focused on defending US interests, including its base at Guantanamo Bay. The US embassy in Havana has reportedly refused requests to import diesel fuel due to the oil blockade.

The Cuban government has expressed concerns about the impact of the oil embargo on its economy and people. The country is currently recovering from yet another blackout under the punishing blockade imposed by Washington.

Source: Al Jazeera