New York Carib News

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has declared that the island will defend itself against any potential military action by the United States, warning of serious regional consequences if tensions escalate further.

In an interview conducted in Havana with NBC’s Kristen Welker, Díaz-Canel emphasized that there is “no justification” for U.S. aggression against Cuba, while stressing that any invasion would provoke resistance. “If that happens, there will be fighting, and there will be a struggle, and we will defend ourselves,” he said, underscoring Cuba’s readiness to protect its sovereignty.

The remarks come amid heightened rhetoric from U.S. President Donald Trump, whose administration has increased pressure on the communist-led nation. Trump recently suggested that a “takeover” of Cuba, potentially unfriendly, remains a possibility, while senior officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have called for political change on the island.

Despite the rising tensions, Díaz-Canel insisted that Cuba’s position remains defensive, not aggressive. He reiterated a willingness to engage in dialogue but rejected U.S. demands related to political reforms, including multiparty elections and the release of individuals described internationally as political prisoners. Cuban authorities, however, deny holding such prisoners and argue that these claims are part of efforts to discredit the revolution.

The decades-old U.S. embargo remains a central point of contention. First imposed in 1962 following the Cuban Revolution led by Fidel Castro, the policy continues to shape Cuba’s economic challenges, including fuel shortages, power outages, and limited access to essential goods. Díaz-Canel described the embargo as “cruel” and a major factor behind the country’s ongoing hardships.

At the same time, the Cuban leader signaled openness to economic engagement, including potential foreign investment in the island’s energy sector, an area currently restricted for U.S. companies under existing sanctions laws.

While both Washington and Havana have acknowledged preliminary talks, deep mistrust persists. Díaz-Canel pointed to past U.S. actions in other regions as a source of skepticism, warning that negotiations conducted alongside military pressure undermine confidence.

As geopolitical tensions continue to rise, Cuba’s leadership is positioning itself firmly against external intervention while leaving the door open, albeit cautiously, to diplomatic engagement.

By Dayvon Love | San Diego Voice and Viewpoint
Director of Public Policy, Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle

In 1953, the United States and other Western forces collaborated to overthrow the democratically elected president, Mohammad Mosaddegh, of Iran.

The stated rationale for pursuing regime change was based on the Cold War logic that Mosaddegh was aligning with an evil communist sphere of influence anchored by the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR/Russia).

Those who are serious in their study of history are clear that the Cold War was a propaganda campaign to position communism and socialism as a “boogeyman” in order to justify Americans’ desire for geopolitical domination of the world. Additionally, Mosaddegh’s policy of nationalizing the oil wealth of the country was disruptive to Western oil companies that wanted unfettered access to Iran’s oil reserves.

After the overthrow of Mosaddegh, the United States installed the Shah of Iran to lead the country, which was a brutal, autocratic regime that lasted for a couple of decades. The 1979 revolution in Iran that resulted in the overthrow of the Shah and the taking of American hostages is often narrated as an act of anti-American aggression instead of a response to the U.S. imposition of a brutal regime on the people of Iran. In other words, the 1979 Iranian revolution and the anti-American sentiments expressed over the years by Iranian leadership is a response to U.S. imperialist aggression toward the sovereignty of the Iranian people and the larger Muslim world.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio gave a speech a few weeks ago in Munich, Germany, which provides a clear underlying logic for U.S. military strikes against Iran. He said:

“…For five centuries, before the end of the Second World War, the West had been expanding – its missionaries, its pilgrims, its soldiers, its explorers pouring out from its shores to cross oceans, settle new continents, build vast empires extending out across the globe,” Rubio said. “But in 1945, for the first time since the age of Columbus, it was contracting. Europe was in ruins. Half of it lived behind an Iron Curtain and the rest looked like it would soon follow. The great Western empires had entered into terminal decline, accelerated by godless communist revolutions and by anti-colonial uprisings that would transform the world and drape the red hammer and sickle across vast swaths of the map in the years to come … .”

The luxuries and quality of life that Western civilization enjoys are based on the colonial relationship it has with the so-called Third World, which is largely non-White and poor. People who are self-respecting will rise up to challenge the social order that causes its own degradation.

Additionally, in a November 1979 interview with journalist Mike Wallace, the Ayatollah Khomeini (leader of Iran) committed to (and delivered on this commitment) releasing Black and women hostages. His rationale for releasing Black hostages was that we are an oppressed group in America and not responsible for the aggression toward their people. This is a recognition of the global system of domination that bolsters White political and economic domination of the world.

It is also important to acknowledge the role that Israel has played in encouraging U.S. military aggression toward Iran.

Israel considers itself to be a cultural descendant of Western civilization. The state of Israel serves as a proxy for maintaining U.S. geopolitical domination of the muslim world and the Palestinian people have been casualties of U.S. maintenance and support of the settler colonial project of the state of Israel. Israel has been urging the U.S. to take a more aggressive stance toward Iran to advance its own military domination of the region.

The current administration’s capitulation to Israeli political leadership’s urging to enact regime change in Iran is a further acknowledgement of how important Israel is as an instrument of American imperialism. This current military strikes against Iran by the Trump administration is another example of the White nationalist political agenda of the Republican Party.

What must be acknowledged is that the military-industrial complex that funds both political parties must be directly confronted and ultimately dismantled. America currently invests $1 trillion a year of our tax dollars to maintain America’s role as the policeman of the world.

Democrats in the upcoming midterms need to be forced to engage in a radical change in American foreign policy that does not legitimize military aggression toward people defending their sovereignty. Democrats need to be forced to pursue a policy that divests from the $1 trillion military budget and puts those resources in the hands of the masses of people in this society who have been victimized by the global system of White supremacy.

Dayvon Love serves as director of public policy for Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle (LBS), a Baltimore-based grassroots think-tank.

New York Carib News

The United States has issued a firm warning to Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council, cautioning against any political actions that could further destabilize the country as international pressure mounts for long-delayed elections.

In a statement posted on X late Wednesday, the U.S. Embassy in Haiti said Washington would view any attempt to alter the current governing arrangement as a serious threat to national stability, particularly if such moves benefit criminal gangs.

“The United States would consider that any person who supports such a destabilizing initiative, which favors the gangs, would be acting against the interests of the United States, the region, and the Haitian people, and will take appropriate measures accordingly,” the embassy stated.

The U.S. warned that any such maneuver would undermine efforts to establish a minimum level of security and stability in Haiti, where gang violence continues to escalate, and economic hardship is deepening.

The statement comes amid reports of internal divisions within the Transitional Presidential Council, with some members reportedly at odds with Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils Aimé. The precise cause of the disagreement remains unclear, but the council met behind closed doors earlier on Wednesday.

A spokesperson for the prime minister’s office said he could not comment on the situation, while the council’s seven voting members did not respond to requests for comment.

Council chairman Laurent Saint Cyr later issued a statement opposing any effort to weaken government stability at this critical juncture. He emphasized that Haiti is approaching major institutional deadlines, including February 7, when the transitional council is provisionally scheduled to step down.

“As major institutional deadlines for the nation approach, any initiative likely to fuel instability, confusion, or a breakdown of trust carries serious risks for the country,” Saint Cyr said.

He warned that unilateral decisions or short sighted political calculations could jeopardize the continuity of the state and further burden an already suffering population.

“Haiti cannot afford to make unilateral decisions or engage in short sighted political calculations that would compromise the stability and continuity of the state, as well as the well being of the already sorely tested population,” he added.

Haiti remains under intense international scrutiny as calls grow for elections to be held for the first time in nearly a decade, even as persistent violence and political uncertainty continue to complicate the path toward democratic governance.

Minneapolis City Council Urges Eviction Moratorium Amid ICE Raids

By Clint Combs | The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

The Minneapolis City Council unanimously approved a resolution urging Gov. Tim Walz to impose a temporary eviction moratorium as ongoing ICE raids displace residents, shutter businesses, and destabilize housing across Minnesota.

All members of the Minneapolis City Council passed a resolution calling on Governor Tim Walz to impose an eviction moratorium during ongoing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids that have shuttered businesses, closed schools, and strained city budgets.

The resolution, sponsored by Ward 2 Council Member Robin Wonsley, urges Walz to issue an executive order that would prevent evictions for the duration of the federal immigration enforcement operations.

“ICE is creating a statewide crisis that requires our governor to step up and step in and ensure that nobody is evicted without an eviction moratorium,” Wonsley said. “Thousands of vulnerable families and residents are facing eviction as soon as February 1.”

Wonsley also criticized Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Gov. Walz for deploying police and National Guard, respectively, to respond to protesters and immigrant communities. “Governor Walz and Mayor Frey have been very clear that they are unable or unwilling to use law enforcement to protect residents at this time,” she said.

Council Member Jamal Osman emphasized that only the governor can issue an eviction moratorium. “That’s why we need leadership that stands with families, not leadership that leaves them on their own,” Osman said.

Council Member Jason Chavez praised community members assisting immigrants during the raids. “These are heroes that are literally in our communities, and they’re doing it because they love immigrants,” he said. “So while the federal government wants to demonize immigrant communities, folks in Minneapolis are saying, ‘We love our neighbors.’”

Chavez highlighted the fear facing residents. “The sad reality is that we do not know when this occupation in Minneapolis and in this state is going to end,” he said. “Our neighbors are actually not sheltering in place because they’re scared of being evicted from their rental units.”

Chavez urged Governor Walz to act. “We are calling on you, Governor, for an eviction moratorium,” he said. “I am not sure how many more people need to get shot in the leg for you to do your job. I’m not sure how many people need to get killed for you to call a state of emergency. I’m not sure how many homes need to get tear-gassed for you to call for a state of emergency.”

Council Member Lane Brown said, “We know there are solutions embedded in our community, and we know how to plant, grow and share them. But we need Governor Walz to step up and help us.”

Jess Zarik, co-executive director of Homeline, reported a surge in tenant concerns over ICE activity. “Over the last 45 days, we’ve seen a massive increase in calls from tenants specifically regarding the presence of ICE in our communities,” she said. “It’s not limited to Minneapolis or St. Paul. We’re hearing from renters across the state. The fear is widespread and growing.”

Tenants have reported that ICE agents show up in apartment complexes, and landlords allegedly assist them to grant access. “Agents are pulling fire alarms to force people out of their homes, and tenants are being threatened with deportation for asserting basic housing rights,” Zarik said.

Council Member Pearll Warren called ICE’s presence “toxic.” “This does not sustain our families in the long term,” she said. “Are we bailing out property owners? This is a band-aid on a bullet wound.”

Patrick Berry, a formerly unhoused resident now living in Stevens Square, responded to Warren, “‘Band-aid on a bullet wound’ is a poor choice of words considering that a woman is dead.”

Cecil Smith, president of the Minnesota Multi-Housing Association, supported Warren’s argument that the housing market is still recovering from Covid-era rent pauses. “Even this discussion is distracting our ability to attract resources for future development,” Smith said.

Clyde Warren, a member of the IPG Tenant Union, and fellow union members attended the rally before the Jan. 15 vote. “Whether or not people have status, a work permit, or citizenship, all immigrants are terrified right now,” he said. “This is not the story of one person. This is reality for hundreds and hundreds of our neighbors.”

Warren added, “What we’re seeing is economic harm pushed onto our people through this racist immigration enforcement while housing courts and eviction processes operate like nothing has changed.”

Dex Anderson, a disability advocate and Ward 10 resident, criticized Council Member Linea Palmisano for leaving during public comment. “Good Linea came back in time to hear this because apparently she didn’t want to hear public comment today,” he said.

Anderson emphasized the role of immigrant workers in disability care. “It’s BIPOC people helping people with disabilities with their care tasks, going to the doctor with their needs,” he said. He added that immigrant residents with disabilities are reluctant to seek medical care due to ICE activity.

Anderson described an incident involving Aliya Rahman, who was on her way to a traumatic brain injury center when she was pulled from her car by ICE agents. She ended up unconscious and was denied medical treatment while in ICE custody.

Clint Combs welcomes reader responses at [email protected].

By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

The U.S. Secret Service is preparing for one of the largest expansions in its history as officials confront what they describe as an unprecedented volume of credible threats, fueled by escalating global tensions and a series of aggressive U.S. actions overseas that have triggered unrest at home and abroad.

The agency plans to hire roughly 4,000 new employees by 2028, a surge that would increase its workforce by about 20 percent, according to internal planning documents and senior officials familiar with the effort. The expansion comes as the United States faces heightened security demands following military operations in Venezuela and Nigeria, along with continued threats and warnings directed at Cuba, Greenland, Colombia, Mexico, and other sovereign nations.

The strain on federal protection services became visible over the weekend as Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was transported under heavy guard to federal court in Manhattan, prompting protests across the United States and overseas. Demonstrations erupted in Washington, New York, Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis, and San Francisco, while crowds gathered in Bogotá, Caracas, and other cities to denounce the U.S. operation that removed Maduro from power.

Outside the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, protesters questioned the scope of American authority.

“What’s stopping Trump from doing this to other countries?” said Zoe Alexandra of the ANSWER Coalition.

The Secret Service has not publicly tied its expansion to any single event, but officials acknowledge that the protective mission has grown sharply. The agency is responsible for safeguarding the president, former presidents, visiting foreign leaders, major political candidates, and major public events, while responding to a surge in online and direct threats deemed credible by investigators.

Deputy Director Matthew Quinn said the agency’s workload has outpaced its staffing levels.

“Our numbers are low to meet those needs,” Quinn said.

Internal projections show the Secret Service aiming to increase its special agent ranks from about 3,500 to roughly 5,000, while adding hundreds of officers to the Uniformed Division and expanding specialized units, including counter-sniper teams, emergency response units, and canine explosives detection teams.

To attract recruits, the agency is offering some of the largest bonuses in federal law enforcement, with incentives reaching up to $60,000 for certain roles, including counter assault, counter sniper, and hazardous response positions.

The expansion effort unfolds during volatile international rumbles. The U.S. capture of Maduro has drawn condemnation from several world leaders, including Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who accused powerful interests of driving military escalation.

“A clan of pedophiles wants to destroy our democracy,” Petro said. “To keep Epstein’s list from coming out, they send warships to kill fishermen and threaten our neighbor with invasion for their oil.”

Inside the United States, lawmakers from both parties raised questions about the legality of the action and the precedent it could set. Some warned that escalating confrontations abroad increase the risk of retaliation at home, placing additional pressure on already stretched security agencies.

Former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said the agency faces steep obstacles.

“They are going to have to turn headquarters into a hiring machine,” Napolitano said.

As the Secret Service prepares for the 2028 presidential election cycle and the Los Angeles Olympics, officials acknowledge that even a successful expansion may not ease the pressure quickly.

“No matter what,” Quinn said, “it’s still going to be a rough summer.”

By Lauren Victoria Burke, NNPA Newswire Contributor

President Donald Trump has ordered the bombing of seven countries in 2025. They are Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen. There has been no congressional authorization for any of the military action. Trump is also threatening Columbia and Cuba.

On the afternoon of January 5, Trump’s Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe met meet with members of Congress on their latest military action.

But a growing question is haunting some members of Congress: Is Congress now irrelevant? Trump is ignoring Congress’ Constitutional authority on domestic and foreign military actions regarding the declaration of war. There are many critics pressing Democrats to “take action” but no one in Congress or out appears to have a definitive answer on how to stop Trump from ignoring the constitution and the legislative branch.

During a January 4 emergency zoom call scheduled by House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries with House Democrats, a senior Democrat “went there” on the question of Congress’ lack of power against a President who operates as if the legislative branch doesn’t exist. Though the emergency meeting was mostly focused on messaging, the larger question of congressional relevance in a nagging one.

Congress returns to session after the Christmas break on January 6. Democrats expected to be focused on the rise in health care costs for millions of Americans after the Republican controlled House and Senate failed to pass an extension of tax credits for the Affordable Care Act. The other topic that exploded in the news over the Christmas break was the partial release of the Epstein files. The latest document drop has included hundreds of photographs along with thousands of lines of redactions that appear to conceal the involvement of Donald Trump.

But when Trump bombed Venezuela on January 3 and abducted President Nicolás Maduro, the direction of the news cycle changed.

Congressman Greg Meeks, who is the senior member on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, was a prominent voice on the emergency call. Questions about the U.S. becoming the “world police” emerged in general several times.

“The U.S. military to attempt regime change in a sovereign foreign nation, without approval from Congress, without a defined objective or plan for the day after, and without support from our allies, risks entangling the United States in an open-ended conflict in Venezuela that could destabilize the entire region,” Rep. Meeks declared in a statement on January 3.

“There’s nothing “America-First” about deploying American sons and daughters to Latin America with no plan and no Congressional oversight,” said Senator Mark Warner, the senior Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee on January 4.

Members were heard to agree that Trump believes that he can do whatever he wants in the same model as Vladimir Putin — with no explanation presented other than the existence of raw power.

Democrats in Congress are expected to bring up the war powers resolution this week. When the Sunday emergency zoom call ended there was no stated conclusion as to what Democratic messaging will be this week.

Lauren Victoria Burke is an independent investigative journalist and the founder of Black Virginia News. She is a political analyst who appears on #RolandMartinUnfiltered and hosts the show LAUREN LIVE on YouTube @LaurenVictoriaBurke. She can be contacted at [email protected] and on twitter at @LVBurke