CUBAN President Miguel Diaz-Canel said that the US has no valid reason to carry out military attacks against the island and that Cubans would defend themselves if it does.

In an interview today, Mr Diaz-Canal said an invasion of Cuba would be costly and affect regional security.

“If the time comes, I don’t think there would be any justification for the United States to launch a military aggression against Cuba, or for the US to undertake a surgical operation or the kidnapping of a president,” he said.

“If that happens, there will be fighting and there will be a struggle and we will defend ourselves.”

His comments come as talks between the two countries are reportedly taking place over the US’s devastating sanctions on Cuba.

Mr Diaz-Canel has accused the US government of implementing a “hostile policy” against Cuba and said it has “no moral [right] to demand anything from Cuba.”

He noted last week that Cuba is interested in engaging in dialogue and discussing any topic without conditions, “not demanding changes from our political system as we are not demanding change from the American system, about which we have several doubts.”

The US energy blockade has deepened Cuba’s crisis, with a lack of petroleum affecting the island’s health system, public transport and production.

Cuba produces only 40 per cent of the fuel it consumes, and it stopped receiving key oil shipments from Venezuela after the US military attacked the South American country in early January.

It used the opportunity to attempt regime change by abducting President Nicolas Maduro and taking him to New York to face alleged drug trafficking charges.

Mr Diaz-Canel said his government takes Mr Trump’s recent comments as a warning, saying: “You hear that Cuba is next, that they’re going to take over Cuba.

“So, from the position of responsibility within the leadership of the country, that is a warning.

“And we need to responsibly protect our people, protect our project and protect our country.”

Meanwhile, the US military confirmed on Sunday that it blew up two boats accused of smuggling drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing a total of five people.

It brings the total killed in boat strikes to at least 168 since the Trump administration began the attacks in September.

The military did not provide evidence that the vessel was ferrying drugs.