Washington: Cuba's embassy in the United States declared its sovereign right to self-defense in response to a media report alleging that the nation had acquired military drones. This assertion follows unverified U.S. intelligence claims that Havana had procured such drones as a precaution against foreign aggression.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Cuban embassy emphasized in a statement shared on the U.S. social media platform X that the nation's defensive measures are justified under International Law and the UN Charter. The statement criticized U.S. critics for misrepresenting Cuba's defensive preparations and accused them of fabricating pretexts for aggression.

The embassy did not specify a direct trigger for its statement. However, Cuba's mission in the UK referenced an Axios report, which alleged that Cuba had acquired over 300 military drones and considered scenarios involving potential American targets. The embassy dismissed these claims as contradictory disinformation designed to justify U.S. hostility.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez further addressed the issue, accusing the U.S. of constructing a fraudulent narrative to justify economic pressure and potential aggression against Cuba. In his post on X, Rodriguez condemned certain media outlets for spreading slander and insisted that Cuba seeks peace, not conflict, while preparing to defend itself against external threats.

The Axios report, which cited unverified U.S. intelligence assessments, claimed that potential Cuban targets could include the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay and other strategic locations. Despite these allegations, U.S. officials reportedly do not believe that Cuba is planning an imminent attack. Nonetheless, the claims have raised concerns within the Trump administration regarding Cuba's military relationships with Russia and Iran, as well as the increased utilization of drone warfare.