The Cuban Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodríguez, responded this Saturday with “we do not allow ourselves to be intimidated” to the statements made the day before by US President Donald Trump, who assured that he will take control of the island “almost immediately.”
«We Cubans do not allow ourselves to be intimidated. The determined response of the people and their support for the Revolution was massively demonstrated this May Day,” Rodríguez said on social networks in reference to the massive pro-government mobilizations the day before, with tens of thousands of Cubans.
In his opinion, Trump’s “new clear and direct threat of military aggression” “raises aggression against Cuba to dangerous levels, with no other pretext than the desire to satisfy tiny elites who promise him electoral and financial loyalty,” linking the US president’s new step with the demands of the Cuban-American community in South Florida.
Week of give and take between Havana and Washington
Trump assured this Friday that “will take control” of Cuba “almost immediately,” but added that he will first finish the “job” in Iran and move the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln back to the Caribbean Sea.
This same Friday the Trump Administration redoubled thesanctions against the island, measures that target the pillars of the Cuban economy, especially the energy, defense, mining and financial services sectors.
According to the new executive order, any person or company that operates in them or does business with the Cuban Government will have their assets in the United States completely blocked.
Also this week, the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, accused Cuba of facilitating the presence of intelligence services of “the adversaries” of the United States in its territory and assured that the Administration of President Donald Trump will not tolerate it.
Likewise, the US Senate rejected this Tuesday a Democratic proposal to limit the possible military operations that Trump could order in Havana.
Since January, the Trump Administration has intensified pressure on Havana with an oil blockade and the president has suggested on several occasions the need for regime change on the island.
The Cuban Government turned the May Day celebration this Friday into a support rally and focused its slogans on the defense of national sovereignty and independence in the face of growing pressure from the United States.
With information from EFE
