Cuba’s President Makes Defiant Claims in NBC Interview
Miguel Diaz-Canel, who serves as the “president” of Cuba, stated in an NBC interview with Kristen Welker that any military intervention by the United States to remove him would provoke a strong response from the Cuban people, suggesting they are prepared to die for their current regime. This claim came during a nearly 53-minute interview released by NBC after a brief excerpt was aired earlier.
During the discussion, Diaz-Canel insisted that Cuba does not need a regime change and dismissed calls from former President Trump for Cuba to negotiate with the United States. He expressed his belief that a military invasion would be unjustified, claiming it would have repercussions for the security of not just Cuba, but also the United States and the surrounding region.
“Invading Cuba would lead to conflict, and we will defend ourselves. If necessary, we are ready to die, as our national anthem states,” he articulated.
Although Diaz-Canel holds the title of president, actual control of Cuba appears to lie with Raul Castro, the 94-year-old brother of the late dictator Fidel Castro. Raul took over leadership in 2008 and continued to influence the regime even after retiring in 2018 when Diaz-Canel assumed the presidency.
The Castro regime has oppressed the Cuban populace for over six decades, leading to significant economic hardship. Complicating their situation further, they have recently lost support from Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, who faced U.S. military operations resulting in his arrest.
For years, Maduro provided Cuba with crucial resources like oil, which helped maintain the troubled country’s infrastructure. In return, Cuba offered Maduro support in various forms to uphold his dictatorship.
The fallout from Maduro’s arrest included the death of 32 Cuban national security officials, raising questions about the events surrounding their defense of him against U.S. forces.
In the interview, Diaz-Canel condemned any potential U.S. military action against Cuba as irrational, advocating instead for dialogue. He acknowledged that discussions had taken place between Cuban officials and the U.S., confirming that Raul Castro was involved in these talks.
When pressed on whether he would consider meeting U.S. demands for political reforms, including the release of political prisoners, Diaz-Canel maintained that such matters were not negotiable, asserting, “No one has asked us to do that.”
He denied claims of the existence of political prisoners in Cuba, labeling it a fabricated narrative, and contested the notion that anyone who opposes the revolution is at risk of imprisonment.
Despite his dismissals, human rights organizations like Prisoners Defenders report that the Cuban government holds over a thousand political prisoners, many subjected to violent and inhumane treatment.
Regarding future dialogue with the U.S., Diaz-Canel noted that while it might be challenging, he sees some potential for agreement, though he claimed to have never interacted with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Notably, this interview marks NBC’s first encounter with a Castro government official since Fidel Castro in 1959 and the first appearance of Diaz-Canel on an American network. In a social media post, he expressed gratitude for the opportunity to share Cuba’s perspective on its long-standing economic challenges.
He concluded by emphasizing Cuba’s commitment to peace and social justice, reinforcing the country’s readiness to defend its independence and sovereignty.
