José Daniel Ferrer García, head of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU), took to Facebook on Monday to address the combative message issued by the Cuban Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (MINFAR). In his video response, Ferrer drew parallels between the rhetoric of the Cuban regime and that of fallen or ousted dictators and leaders.
The MINFAR had earlier released a statement quoting Fidel Castro: "War can only end in victory or death, and for Cuba, there can be no alternative but victory, whatever the cost." This was accompanied by an image of a soldier aiming with an AK-47 and the text, "War should not be provoked, but we will wage it if the enemy imposes it."
In a one-minute and 23-second video, Ferrer systematically listed leaders who made similar declarations before their downfall. "Nicolás Maduro said this, and we know where he is. Diosdado Cabello said it too, and we see what's happening in Venezuela, who is in control, who sets the course," Ferrer stated from Miami.
Ferrer’s message resonates strongly within the recent geopolitical landscape: Maduro was apprehended by U.S. special forces in Caracas on January 3, 2026, in an operation that resulted in the deaths of 32 Cuban bodyguards.
He also referred to Vladimir Padrino López, the former Venezuelan Defense Minister ousted on March 18, 2026, and Ayatollah Khamenei, who was killed in U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on February 28, 2026.
"Many have said these things. Noriega said it, Gaddafi said it, Milošević said it, Saddam Hussein said it, Ayatollah Khamenei said it. Many have said it, and we know where they are now," Ferrer noted.
Rising Tensions Between Cuba and the U.S.
This video emerges amidst the most significant escalation of tensions between Cuba and the United States in decades. Last Friday, Trump signed an executive order expanding sanctions on Cuba, targeting sectors such as energy, defense, mining, and financial services.
On Saturday, Trump announced in The Villages, Florida, that the U.S. would "take Cuba almost immediately," and threatened to position the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier just 100 meters off the Cuban coast.
In response, Díaz-Canel warned delegates from 36 countries on Sunday about the "imminence of a U.S. military aggression," invoking the "War of All the People" doctrine and declaring that "every Cuban man and woman has a rifle."
Ferrer, who was forcibly exiled from Cuba on October 13, 2025, and welcomed in Miami by Cuban-American congressmen and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, had already warned regime enforcers and informers on Saturday that they "will have no escape."
In his Monday video, the opposition leader issued a stark ultimatum to the regime's leadership: "The only solution for Cuba is the end of tyranny, and if they don't leave peacefully, they will be forced out. It is in their best interest to leave peacefully. They know it; they are sure it is in their best interest to leave peacefully."
Understanding the Implications of Ferrer's Statements
Who is José Daniel Ferrer García?
José Daniel Ferrer García is the leader of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU), a prominent opposition figure challenging the Cuban regime.
What was the message from MINFAR that Ferrer responded to?
MINFAR released a combative statement quoting Fidel Castro, declaring that war must result in victory or death, and for Cuba, there is no alternative but victory.
Why does Ferrer's response resonate with recent geopolitical events?
Ferrer draws parallels between the Cuban regime's rhetoric and that of other fallen or ousted leaders, such as Nicolás Maduro, who was captured by U.S. forces, illustrating a pattern of defiance leading to downfall.