Cuban president says island will never become a colony of any empire

Wednesday 09 September 2026 - 11:15

By: Azzat Manal

Cuban president says island will never become a colony of any empire

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has reaffirmed his country’s commitment to national sovereignty, declaring that Cuba will never again become a colony of any foreign power.

In a post on X, Díaz-Canel recalled Cuba’s colonial past and stressed that the sacrifices made in the struggle for independence and self-determination had not been in vain. He said the country would continue defending its sovereignty and political independence.

“Cuba, which knows well what it means to be a colony, is confident that it will never be one again,” Díaz-Canel wrote, adding that the country would defend itself “to the end.”

His remarks came after US President Donald Trump shared a map on Truth Social on September 7 showing Cuba, Canada, Mexico and several Central American and Caribbean countries, along with Greenland, colored in the pattern of the US flag. Trump did not provide an explanation or accompanying comment about the image.

The post has drawn attention because Trump has repeatedly discussed territorial and political expansion involving Greenland and Canada. Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark and has strategic importance because of its location in the Arctic.

Cuba, meanwhile, has long emphasized its sovereignty and opposition to foreign interference. Díaz-Canel’s latest statement reflects Havana’s longstanding position that the country’s political future must be determined by its own people.

The exchange comes amid broader tensions over territorial ambitions, sovereignty and US influence in the Western Hemisphere, where questions surrounding Cuba, Greenland and Canada have increasingly featured in political debate.