00:00Cuban President Miguel DÃaz-Canel says the country is prepared for a possible U.S. attack
00:06after months of escalating pressure from President Donald Trump.
00:10While he says Cuba does not seek confrontation with Washington,
00:13it has a responsibility to remain ready to prevent conflict if it becomes unavoidable.
00:20Tensions had intensified following the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro,
00:25after which Trump had described Cuba as a failed nation and imposed a strict oil blockade.
00:32The restrictions had deepened Cuba's economic and energy crisis
00:35as the island had lost a key source of fuel and now faced prolonged shortages.
00:41DÃaz-Canel had rejected Washington's characterisation of Cuba as a failed state,
00:46instead describing the country as a nation under siege from sustained external pressure.
00:51Despite rising tensions, both countries had held talks aimed at easing the situation,
00:57although these discussions had made little meaningful progress, according to reports.
Comments