In an interview with NBC News’ Meet the Press, Cuba’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carlos Fernández de Cossío, reaffirmed the country’s willingness to engage in dialogue with the United States based on respect for Cuba’s sovereignty and self-determination.
The senior official emphasized that Cuba is a peaceful nation, not an enemy of the United States, and does not pose a threat to the country. “In fact, we wish—and have stated openly—that we would like to have a friendly and respectful relationship with the United States, with its government, and we have been developing it for a long time with the people of the United States,” he said.
The Deputy Minister also highlighted that Cuba’s government structure is not subject to negotiation with foreign powers: “I can tell you that, in conversations and dialogue with the United States, the nature of the Cuban government, the structure of the Cuban government, and the members of the Cuban government are not part of any negotiation. That is something no sovereign country negotiates.”
Fernández de Cossío further noted that the Cuban military remains prepared for any eventuality: “Our military is always prepared and, in fact, is currently preparing for the possibility of a military aggression. We would be naive if, looking at what is happening around the world, we did not do that, but we really hope it does not happen. We see no reason why it should happen and find no justification for it. Why would the United States government compel its country to take military action against a neighboring country like Cuba?”
He also stated that “the challenges Cuba faces are, to a large extent, the result of U.S. policies aimed at causing maximum damage to the Cuban economy, Cuban society, and the Cuban people, which makes it very difficult for any government to manage affairs effectively and achieve positive outcomes when a superpower is applying such a high level of pressure, particularly economic, on the country.”
Watch the full interview here:
https://youtu.be/RBXJ_acBmzM?si=IGUcWU77KQh1_C1Y