Cuban president criticizes Trump-led summit as “neocolonial”

Sunday 08 March 2026 - 10:30

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel strongly criticized a regional meeting organized in Miami by U.S. President Donald Trump, describing the gathering as “neocolonial” and warning that it could undermine regional sovereignty.

The summit, known as the “Shield of the Americas,” brought together more than a dozen leaders from Latin America and the Caribbean to discuss security cooperation and strategies to combat drug cartels across the continent.

In a message published on the social media platform X, Díaz-Canel argued that the meeting represented an attempt by the United States to influence regional governments and promote the use of military force to address internal security issues in the region.

The Cuban leader also said the initiative contradicted regional commitments to maintain Latin America and the Caribbean as a zone of peace, referring to a declaration adopted in Havana in 2014. According to Havana, such initiatives risk increasing geopolitical tensions and weakening regional integration efforts.

During the summit, Trump delivered a critical assessment of the political and economic situation in Cuba, stating that the island was facing a severe crisis and suggesting that political change could occur in the near future.

The meeting was part of a broader effort by Washington to strengthen security cooperation in the Western Hemisphere and to address transnational organized crime. Leaders attending the summit discussed joint strategies against drug trafficking networks and other regional threats.

Relations between the United States and Cuba have long been marked by political tensions, economic sanctions, and ideological differences. Analysts say that the recent exchange of statements highlights the continuing divisions between Havana and Washington regarding regional policy and sovereignty.

Despite these disagreements, observers note that diplomatic developments in the region could influence future dialogue between the two countries, particularly as geopolitical dynamics evolve across Latin America.