‘Atrocious’ crime: Cuban official decries possibility of US military action

What the report says

Cuba’s deputy foreign minister, Carlos Fernandez de Cossio, has warned that any US military action against the island would amount to an “atrocious international crime,” according to remarks reported by Al Jazeera on September 27, 2026. Speaking on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal, he rejected President Donald Trump’s recent comments suggesting Cuba is failing and said the country is a peaceful neighbor that should not face force.

Fernandez de Cossio also criticized the long-running US sanctions regime, describing the pressure campaign as comparable to genocide. He argued that restrictions on trade, fuel, food access and health services have worsened shortages in a country of more than 10 million people. Al Jazeera reported that the Trump administration had recently tightened oil and fuel restrictions, contributing to fuel scarcity and rolling blackouts, while Cuban officials have cited wider difficulties in securing basic necessities.

The comments followed a tense week at the UN General Assembly, where Trump said “freedom will be coming” to Cuba, prompting the Cuban delegation to leave the hall. On Saturday, Trump also told reporters he did not think military action would be necessary, but repeated that Cuba is “failing very badly.”

As reported by Al Jazeera, Havana says diplomatic channels with Washington remain open, but progress has been limited by sanctions. Fernandez de Cossio said Cuba is prepared to defend itself and would only welcome talks that respect sovereignty and mutual dignity. Several countries also condemned the US blockade and sanctions at the UN this week.