By Ayose Naranjo
HAVANA, May 28 (Reuters) – Cuba’s Deputy Foreign Minister Josefina Vidal sees the risk of U.S. military aggression against the island growing as negotiations between the nations stagnate, she said on Thursday.
Speaking at a legislative hearing at the National Capitol to denounce U.S. sanctions on Cuban oil imports, Vidal accused Washington of fabricating pretexts to portray Cuba as a threat to U.S. national security to justify aggression.
“Every day the danger of military aggression against Cuba grows,” she said.
Under President Donald Trump, the U.S. has effectively imposed a blockade on Cuba by threatening sanctions on countries supplying it with fuel, triggering power outages and exacerbating its worst crisis in decades.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday he was confident dialogue between the nations, which began around March, would have “a good result.”
Cuban authorities have said they will not allow interference in internal affairs and have criticized the U.S. for a lack of good faith.
“A channel of exchange between the two governments remains open, but there has not been much progress. We have reason to doubt the seriousness and responsibility of the United States government,” Vidal said.
In the latest escalation in Trump’s pressure campaign against Cuba’s Communist government, the U.S. formally charged former President Raul Castro with four counts of murder for the 1996 downing of civilian aircraft operated by Miami-based exiles.
Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez has warned that any military action would lead to a “bloodbath” in which thousands of Cubans and Americans would die.
(Reporting by Ayose Naranjo, Writing by Natalia Siniawski, Editing by Rod Nickel)
