The Cuban government has issued a scathing condemnation of what it describes as “cowardly military aggression” by the United States against Venezuela.
In a formal statement released in Havana on Saturday, the Revolutionary Government expressed “absolute support” for its ally and demanded that Washington provide “proof of life” for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
The statement follows reports of a significant escalation in regional tensions, which Havana claims reached a breaking point following a US naval deployment in the Caribbean last September.
‘State terrorism’
The official communique described the US actions as a “criminal act” and a “blatant violation of international law.” Cuban officials characterized the intervention as an attempt by the US to revive the Monroe Doctrine—a 19th-century policy used to justify US influence in the Western Hemisphere—with the aim of seizing Venezuela’s vast natural resources.
“This is a blatant imperialist and fascist aggression with objectives of domination,” the statement read, adding that the move was intended to “intimidate and subjugate” other Latin American and Caribbean nations.
Demands for proof of life
Central to the Cuban government’s message was an endorsement of claims made by Venezuelan Executive Vice President Delcy Rodríguez. Havana is demanding that US authorities immediately release Mr. Maduro and Ms. Flores, who the statement suggests have been “abducted” by military forces.
The Cuban government placed direct responsibility for any loss of life or material damage on the White House.
“The Government of the United States, President Donald Trump, and his Secretary of State… bear absolute responsibility for the deaths and the human and material damage already caused,” the statement said.
Regional stability at risk
The Revolutionary Government warned that the 2014 proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a “Zone of Peace” is now under direct threat.
While the US has previously cited “unfounded accusations” as the basis for its military presence in the region, Cuba maintains that Venezuela is a “peaceful nation” that poses no threat to its neighbors.
The statement concluded with a characteristic revolutionary flourish, stating that Cuba remains “firm and unwavering” in its support for the Bolivarian government, ending with the traditional slogan: “Homeland or Death.”
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