The Cuban government has strongly condemned the deployment of U.S. military forces in the Caribbean, denouncing Washington’s actions as a threat to regional peace and a continuation of interventionist policies under “absurd pretexts.”

In a statement released by the Cuban Foreign Ministry, Havana called the U.S. presence “a serious threat and an aggressive show of force that undermines the sovereignty and self-determination of the peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean.” The statement stressed that the deployment violates the commitment of 33 Member States of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), which had proclaimed the region a Zone of Peace.

Cuba criticized Washington’s claims that its military deployment targets organized crime, drug trafficking, and irregular migration. The statement described these allegations as “an absurd pretext” and accused the U.S. of resorting to lies to justify violence and plunder.

Havana also recalled the destructive consequences of U.S. interventionism in the past, including the Iraq invasion and other humanitarian crises, accusing Washington of using the Monroe Doctrine as a blueprint to dominate the hemisphere.

The Cuban government rejected claims that Venezuela and President Nicolás Maduro are involved in illicit drug trafficking, highlighting a United Nations report that identifies the United States as the largest market for narcotic drugs in the region, fueling drug networks in Latin America and the Caribbean. Cuba also noted that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s 2025 report did not implicate Venezuela in cross-border drug operations, undermining Washington’s repeated accusations.

The warning comes as the U.S. has deployed at least three warships carrying over 4,000 Marines and sailors into Caribbean waters, claiming a mission to counter drug cartels. The escalation coincides with Washington’s $50 million bounty on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

In response, Venezuela has mobilized its forces to defend its sovereignty. Maduro has dispatched 15,000 troops to the Colombian border, while drones, naval units, aircraft, and the Bolivarian Militia — now numbering 4.5 million members — have been mobilized. In a televised address, Maduro emphasized that Venezuela will not bow to foreign pressure, declaring that the nation’s strength lies in the unity of its people, army, and police.

Cuba reaffirmed its commitment to combatting illicit drug trafficking through national and regional measures, defending sovereignty, and promoting peace and stability across Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Cuban government concluded by calling on the international community to reject U.S. provocations in the Caribbean and defend the independence of Latin American and Caribbean nations against imperialist interference. (ILKHA)