Angel de Fana: "U.S. Military Intervention in Cuba Unlikely Unless Regime Resorts to Violence"

Renowned Cuban political prisoner, Ángel de Fana, has expressed skepticism about the likelihood of U.S. military intervention in Cuba. He outlined the sole scenario that might warrant such action: if the Cuban regime responds to a popular uprising by killing those involved.

As the leader of the organization Plantados until Freedom and Democracy in Cuba, De Fana shared his views in an interview with journalist Tania Costa. His comments came a day after the public presentation of the statement "To the People of Cuba and the United States," signed by over 145 former political prisoners from various generations and read by De Fana on October 22 at the Brigade 2506 Museum in Miami.

Historical Perspective and Current Stance

"I've never believed that the United States would engage in a military intervention in Cuba. These were stories that never convinced me," stated De Fana, who spent more than 20 years in prison after being sentenced in September 1962. He emphasized, however, a specific exception: "If there is a Cuban popular uprising and the regime not only seeks to suppress it but also resorts to killing, that might justify direct military intervention in Cuba."

De Fana's consistent stance reflects his belief that Cubans are capable of liberating themselves from dictatorship without foreign intervention. In April 2026, he noted that although social despair had reached a point where some citizens were calling for bombings, he personally advocated for a peaceful Cuban-led solution.

Call for Human Rights and External Support

The statement, dated October 10, 2026, demands the unconditional release of all political prisoners and the decriminalization of dissent as essential prerequisites for any negotiations with the regime. "There can be no negotiations until these conditions are met," De Fana emphasized.

Among the signatories are Guillermo "Coco" Fariñas, a recipient of the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize in 2010, and Jorge Luis García Pérez "Antúnez". Fariñas was briefly detained for 24 hours on August 31 in Santa Clara on charges of "public disorder."

The document also explicitly supports assistance from the United States or other countries if necessary to protect the population from military repression by the regime. It remains open to a transition involving military and government officials willing to embrace change.

The declaration has been sent to the U.S. Department of State and members of Congress. As of the interview on October 23, there had been no response. Meanwhile, human rights organizations reported 1,327 political prisoners in Cuba by the end of August 2026, with more former prisoners continuing to endorse the statement.