Russia, China voice firm support for Cuba

U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday his predecessors have mulled intervening in Cuba for decades and now it looks like he will be the one that does it, reported Xinhua.

"Other presidents have looked at this for 50, 60 years, doing something," Trump told reporters at the White House. "And, it looks like I'll be the one that does it. So, I would be happy to do it."

Cuban Americans can go back and help, he added.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier Thursday that the likelihood of a negotiated agreement with Cuba is not high at the moment.

Meanwhile, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Thursday China firmly supports Cuba in safeguarding its sovereignty and national dignity and opposing external interference, reported Xinhua.

Spokesperson Guo Jiakun made the remarks at a daily press briefing in response to a query about the U.S. recent accusation against Cuban leader Raul Castro, which the Cuban government has strongly rejected.

Guo said China always firmly opposes unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law or authorization of the United Nations Security Council.

"We stand against abusing judicial means and exerting pressure on Cuba under any pretext by external forces," said Guo.

"The United States should stop brandishing sanctions or judicial proceedings at Cuba and stop resorting to the threat of force at every turn," he added.

Meanwhile, Russia strongly condemned the renewed attempts to bring the Cuban people to their knees, said the Foreign Ministry of Russia in a statement on Thursday.

For nearly 70 years, the Cuban people have heroically defended the sovereignty and independence of their country in the face of aggressive external threats, political blackmail, and a trade, economic, financial and, most recently, energy blockade of the Island of Freedom.

We are confident that the Cuban people will stand firm in their selfless and courageous struggle against these challenges – challenges that have neither moral nor legal justification. We are equally confident that the country will rally even more strongly behind its historic leader, Raúl Castro. Any attempts to fabricate charges against a statesman and political figure of his standing – who enjoys great authority both in Cuba and far beyond its borders – are doomed to fail,” said the statement.

“We reaffirm our firm solidarity with the people and government of the sister country, with whom we will continue to strengthen close ties of friendship, mutual support, assistance and comprehensive cooperation that bind us,” the statement added.

The United States has recently indicted Cuban Revolution leader Raul Castro in connection with the Cuban military's fatal downing of two planes 30 years ago, and sent the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group to the Caribbean, moves seen as part of a broader pressure campaign against Cuba.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said Wednesday the U.S. indictment of Castro is a "political maneuver" with no legal basis, adding that Washington "is lying and manipulating the events surrounding the downing of the small planes belonging to the narco-terrorist organization Brothers to the Rescue."

He warned on Monday that any U.S. military attack on Cuba would cause "a bloodbath with incalculable consequences" and a devastating impact on peace and stability in Latin America and the Caribbean.