WASHINGTON, March 22, 2026 (V7N) – Cuba’s Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio said the island is preparing for the possibility of a US military attack, though he stressed that Havana has “no quarrel” with Washington.  

“Our military is always prepared. And in fact it is preparing these days for the possibility of military aggression,” he told NBC in an interview aired Sunday, adding: “We truly hope that it doesn’t occur.”  

Fernandez de Cossio emphasized Cuba’s right to self-defense but expressed willingness to sit down with the United States.  

The interview aired as Cuban authorities scrambled to restore power after the second nationwide blackout in less than a week, caused by aging infrastructure and a US oil blockade.  

Cuba has faced seven nationwide blackouts since 2024, worsening daily life for its nearly 10 million citizens.  

The outages intensified after Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro, Cuba’s main oil supplier, was captured in a US military operation in January.  

- No oil has been imported since January 9, crippling the power sector and forcing airlines to curtail flights, hitting tourism hard.  

Fernandez de Cossio said Cuba hopes fuel will reach the island “one way or the other” and that the US boycott “cannot be sustained forever.”  

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has threatened tariffs on countries selling oil to Cuba, further tightening pressure on the island’s economy.

END/WD/RH