The Cuban government has reportedly begun distributing weapons to its citizens and urging them to prepare for a potential US invasion, amid rising US tensions.

Cuba has been distributing weapons to its citizens in fear of a US invasion (Image: Getty)

Cuba has reportedly begun distributing weapons to its civilians, as the government urges its population to brace for a potential US invasion.

Reports from Latin American publication Version Final state: “Against the backdrop of the deployment of American military power near the island, the government of Havana began distributing weapons to citizens, officially urging them to prepare for an imminent foreign invasion.”

The publication also noted that daily life in Havana, Cuba’s capital, has been disrupted by ongoing preparations for a possible military confrontation, with government agencies and organisations already discussing emergency measures.

According to the same report, the measures have been prompted by mounting tensions surrounding the island and a significant bolstering of US military presence in the region.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parilla said on May 22 that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was deliberately attempting to provoke military aggression against the country, insisting that Cuba had never posed a threat to US national security.

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While Rubio stated on May 21 that America would prefer to settle relations with Cuba through diplomatic means, US president Donald Trump declared days later on June 4 that the US intends to overhaul the island’s state system.

At the start of May, Trump quipped that the US Navy would stop off at Cuba on its way home from Iran, after US forces “finish the job” in the Middle East.

“Now Cuba’s got problems. We’ll finish one first. I like to finish a job. On the way back from what we’ll do… on the way back from Iran, we’ll have one of our big, maybe the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier – the biggest in the world, will have that come in. Stop about 100 yards offshore, and they’ll say, ‘thank you very much. We give up’,” said Trump.

The day after the president’s remarks on June 5, the US Treasury Department announced it had imposed sanctions on relatives of former Cuban leader Raul Castro.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said on the same day that the sanctions are aimed at tightening the blockade and further aggravating relations between Havana and Washington.

According to CNN correspondent Patrick Oppmann, preparations for war have escalated to the point where administrators of state-owned buildings are consulting tenants about logistics.

Trump has threatened to take Cuba ‘on the way back from Iran’ (Image: Getty)

The day following the president’s comments on June 5, the US Treasury Department announced it had imposed sanctions on relatives of former Cuban leader Raul Castro.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel stated on the same day that the sanctions are designed to tighten the blockade and further strain relations between Havana and Washington.

According to CNN correspondent Patrick Oppmann, preparations for potential conflict have intensified to the extent that administrators of state-owned buildings are consulting tenants about logistics.

“In the state building where our main offices are located, one of the administrators approached us to ask if we were going to need the office during the invasion,” Oppman said.

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The United States still maintains the Guantanamo Bay on Cuban territory, a facility covering roughly 116km squared, and supporting thousands of military and civilian personnel.

Reaction on social media was predominantly sympathetic towards Cuba, with one X user commenting: “Cuba’s concerns are understandable.

“Recent deployments have also increased the number of troops at the base to around 1,000 for additional operations. In that context, it is not surprising that Havana would review contingency plans and focus on national defense.”

One user commented: “Cuba may be in real danger due to the US escalation against it, but I don’t expect a broad American invasion of it, and if something happens, I bet it will be escalating economic and political pressure with limited operations, and it won’t be a full-scale war to change the regime!”