Cuba Warns of Bloodbath Over Trump Takeover Threats as Talks Show 0 Progress
Updated
Updated · abcnews.com · May 8
Cuba Warns of Bloodbath Over Trump Takeover Threats as Talks Show 0 Progress
7 articles · Updated · abcnews.com · May 8
Bruno Rodriguez said U.S. rhetoric about "taking over Cuba" has put Washington on a "dangerous path" that could trigger a humanitarian catastrophe and a "bloodbath in Cuba."
Trump has recently said "Cuba is going to be next," floated sending the USS Abraham Lincoln offshore, and paired that rhetoric with a blockade on foreign oil shipments and new sanctions on Cuban officials.
Rodriguez said Havana takes the threats "very seriously" and would defend itself "to the very last consequences" with mass public support if the U.S. launched military action.
Secret bilateral contacts acknowledged in March have produced no progress, he said, because Cuba is open to talks on bilateral issues but rejects any negotiation over its political system or internal affairs.
The warning sharpens a broader standoff in which Havana denies posing any U.S. security threat and says using human-rights allegations to justify military aggression would violate international law.
As US pressure mounts on Cuba, will Russian and Chinese support prevent a total collapse?
Beyond Trump's rhetoric, what is the United States' actual end-game for Cuba's government?
Cuba on the Brink: U.S. Blockade, Humanitarian Collapse, and the Struggle for Reform in 2026
Overview
Since January 2026, Cuba has plunged into a severe crisis as escalating tensions with the United States have triggered a deepening humanitarian catastrophe. The Trump administration’s actions, including threats of regime change and a de facto oil blockade, have sharply worsened Cuba’s economic situation. President Trump’s public vow to cut off all oil and money has led to crippling fuel shortages, widespread blackouts, and rationing, paralyzing daily life and public services. These pressures have forced Cuba to seek international mediation and humanitarian aid, while the U.S. maintains a hardline stance, leaving the island’s future uncertain and increasingly unstable.