Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez acknowledged on Thursday the country's resource limitations in ensuring adequate military training in anticipation of a potential United States invasion. His remarks were made during a meeting of the Provincial Defense Council in Mayabeque, as part of the Strategic Exercise Bastión 2024, which began on Wednesday and concludes this Friday in Cuba.
"Given the country's current conditions, we cannot expect centralized resources to meet demands. Territorial potential must be harnessed, and military preparation actions must be decentralized," stated Díaz-Canel. He advised against military maneuvers that require high resource consumption, arguing that the government is not economically equipped to support such efforts.
The Bastión 2024 Exercise is an annual event led by the Cuban military, aimed at "preparing the country for defense." In this edition, Díaz-Canel emphasized the need to strengthen the "concept of the war of the entire people" and to intensify military preparation across the nation. "This year will be a year of intense defense preparation, and we will coordinate all the activities systematically," he expressed.
According to Díaz-Canel, the current scenario unfolds amid what he describes as "political and economic aggression" from the United States, which he blamed for the deteriorating social and economic conditions on the island. He cited decisions by the Trump Administration, such as reinstating Cuba on the list of state sponsors of terrorism, as examples of what he labeled "hegemonic and interventionist" policies.
These statements come at a critical time for Cuba, marked by rampant inflation, frequent blackouts, and food shortages that have heightened public discontent, accompanied by low participation levels in regime-led calls to action. The call to prepare for the "war of the entire people" also follows a tragedy in Holguín, where 13 individuals, including nine recruits, died in an accident at an ammunition warehouse. This incident has sparked criticism regarding the operational conditions of the Cuban military system.
The Bastión 2024 Exercise was inaugurated by Raúl Castro, who, at 93, has taken on a more visible role in public events, reinforcing the official narrative of resilience against "external aggressions." Nonetheless, the ongoing challenge for Cuba's leadership remains the wear and tear from decades of crisis.
Understanding Cuba's Military Preparedness Amid Resource Constraints
What is the purpose of the Bastión 2024 Exercise?
The Bastión 2024 Exercise is an annual military event led by the Cuban army to prepare the nation for defense, emphasizing a decentralized approach to accommodate resource limitations.
How is the U.S. implicated in Cuba's current challenges according to Díaz-Canel?
Díaz-Canel attributes Cuba's social and economic difficulties to what he views as the United States' political and economic aggression, citing the re-listing of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism by the Trump Administration as an example.
What recent incident has raised concerns about Cuba's military conditions?
A recent tragedy in Holguín, where 13 people, including nine recruits, died in an ammunition warehouse accident, has led to criticism of the operational conditions within Cuba's military system.