Cuban president gives first UK interview, warns country does not want war but is not afraid
In his first UK interview, the Cuban president stated that Cuba does not want war but is not afraid of it, amid threats of invasion from former US President Donald Trump.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Cuba's president, Miguel Diaz-Canel, has given his first UK television interview, warning that his country does not want war but is not afraid of it. The interview comes amid heightened tensions with the United States, following repeated threats from former US President Donald Trump.
Speaking to Sky News, Diaz-Canel rejected Trump's accusations that Cuba harms American national security, describing them as lies. He said Cuba is a peaceful country that poses no threat to anyone. The president accused the US government of waging a campaign of "media-driven intoxication and psychological warfare" aimed at frightening and destabilising Cuban society.
Diaz-Canel pointed to the worsening of the US economic blockade, which he said has been tightened to the point of "maximum pressure", causing major problems for the daily lives of Cubans. He also noted a military buildup off Cuba's coast, and when asked whether he takes Trump's threats seriously, he replied: "We are willing to fight to the very last drop of blood in order to defend our rights, our independence, our sovereignty, and our achievement."
The interview marks a rare direct engagement by the Cuban leader with a British broadcaster. It was conducted as part of a special Sky News report from Havana, which also includes coverage from correspondents on the ground.
On screen
Stills are sampled automatically at 60-second intervals. Where shown, the still is the nearest available frame from the relevant broadcast segment and is included to show what was on screen during that part of the broadcast. A still may not correspond to the exact second of a quoted phrase.
Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Sky News |
|---|---|
| Cuban president accused the US government of lying and manipulating international public opinion. | |
| Cuban president gave his first UK interview to Sky News. | |
| Cuban president said his country is willing to fight to defend its sovereignty. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
Sky News framed the story as a major exclusive, highlighting that it was the Cuban president's first UK interview. The channel used the interview to underscore the seriousness of the moment, repeatedly referencing Trump's threats and the military buildup. The tone was neutral but emphasised the dramatic language of Diaz-Canel, such as 'fight to the very last drop of blood'. The broadcast also heavily promoted a later special programme from Havana.
- “We don't want the war, but we're not afraid of it and we are getting ready so that we're not surprised or defeated.”
- “We are willing to fight to the very last drop of blood in order to defend our rights, our independence, our sovereignty, and our achievement.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.