Cuba warns US military action would be 'atrocious international crime'

September 28, 2026 at 01:34 AM2 min

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Cuba's deputy foreign minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio said on Sunday that any US military action against the island would be an 'atrocious international crime'. He also rejected President Donald Trump's claim that Cuba is a failed state, and called US sanctions 'equivalent to genocide'.

Key Facts

Carlos Fernandez de Cossio, Cuba's deputy foreign minister, said US military action against Cuba would be an 'atrocious international crime'.
Fernandez de Cossio called US sanctions 'equivalent to genocide', citing disruption of commercial shipments, starvation, and deprivation of healthcare and fuel.
President Donald Trump said on Tuesday at the UN General Assembly that 'freedom will be coming' to Cuba, prompting the Cuban delegation to exit the hall.
The Trump administration enforced an additional oil and fuel blockade against Cuba earlier this year, causing widespread fuel scarcity and rolling power outages.
Several countries condemned the US economic sanctions and blockade of Cuba during the UN General Assembly earlier this week.

Cuban Official's Warning

Carlos Fernandez de Cossio told C-SPAN's Washington Journal on Sunday that US military force against Cuba would be an 'atrocious international crime'. He rejected President Donald Trump's claim that Cuba is a failed state, made during Trump's Tuesday speech at the UN General Assembly. Fernandez de Cossio said Havana must ready its citizens for the prospect of US military aggression and will exercise its legitimate right to self-defence.

Sanctions and Blockade

Fernandez de Cossio said US measures disrupting commercial shipments, attempting starvation, and depriving healthcare and fuel are 'equivalent to a genocide'. The US has maintained a policy of maximum economic pressure against Cuba for more than 60 years. Earlier this year, the Trump administration enforced an additional oil and fuel blockade, crippling infrastructure and causing widespread fuel scarcity and rolling power outages. Cuban officials cited systemic difficulties in securing food supplies and other basic necessities for the country of more than 10 million people.

Diplomatic Channels

Fernandez de Cossio said bilateral diplomatic channels with the US remain open but have yielded minimal results due to the economic stranglehold of ongoing sanctions. He added that Havana remains willing to engage with Washington in a 'respectful manner' only if discussions accommodate mutual dignity, benefit both populations, and respect state sovereignty. Several countries condemned the US's continued economic sanctions and blockade of Cuba during the UNGA earlier this week.