March 24, 2026
Carlos Fernandez de Cossio
Carlos Fernández de Cossío, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, emphasized in statements to NBC News that Cuba’s future is decided by the Cuban people, not by a foreign power.
Cuba’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carlos Fernández de Cossío, reiterated his nation’s willingness to engage in dialogue with the United States and insisted on a bilateral relationship based on mutual respect, sovereignty, and non-interference.
As he stated on the NBC News program Meet the Press, Cuba’s future is decided by its people, not by a foreign power.
See the interview here: youtu.be/RBXJ_acBmzM
“Cuba is a sovereign country. It has the right to be a sovereign country and the right to self-determination. Cuba would not accept becoming a vassal state or a dependent state of any other country or any other superpower,” he emphasized.
The diplomat assured that Cuba is not an enemy of the United States and does not seek confrontation, “but it will defend its sovereignty.”
“We would be naive” if we did not consider the possibility of a conflict, he added, “given what is happening in the world.”
In this regard, Fernández de Cossío emphasized: “Our armed forces are always prepared, and in fact are currently preparing for the possibility of military aggression.” He stated at the same time that the country’s leaders “sincerely hope it does not happen. “We don’t see why it would have to happen, and we find no justification whatsoever.”
In the online interview, the Deputy Foreign Minister reaffirmed that confrontation is not the way forward, but national dignity is non-negotiable.
“The nature of the Cuban government, its structure, and its members are not subject to negotiation. That is something no sovereign country negotiates,” he stated.
In a scenario marked by external pressures, the senior official stated that Cuba has no dispute with the United States.
He emphasized openness to dialogue and the building of a respectful relationship between the two countries.
“We are ready to negotiate with whoever the U.S. government, as a sovereign nation, designates as its spokesperson, as its chief negotiator. “We are ready to negotiate with whoever is designated by the U.S. government. They are a sovereign nation. We do not interfere in that,” he said.
In the deputy minister’s view, what is currently happening is that the U.S. is threatening coercive measures against countries that might export fuel to Cuba, and that is why Cuba has not received fuel for a long time.
“The situation is very serious, and we are acting as proactively as possible to address it. We hope that fuel will reach Cuba one way or another, and that this boycott imposed by the United States will not be prolonged or sustained indefinitely,” he noted.
Fernández de Cossío’s statements came amid threats from the Donald Trump administration, the intensification of the economic, commercial, and financial blockade, and the oil embargo.
Source: NBC News / Al Mayadeen.