President Trump called Cuba a “failed nation” on Monday and refused to rule out military action aimed at toppling its government. Trump spoke to reporters aboard Air Force One.

President Donald Trump: “And they should absolutely make a deal, because it’s a — it’s really a humanitarian threat. … We’ll see how it all turns out, but Cuba and us, we are talking. In the meantime, there’s an embargo. There’s no oil. There’s no money. There’s no anything.”

Cuba’s deputy foreign minister responded to Trump’s remarks, writing, “It is frequent for U.S. officials and diplomats to claim that U.S. aggression is not responsible for difficulties in Cuba. It seems they don’t listen to their President.” The Trump administration’s blockade of fuel has triggered a severe humanitarian and economic crisis in Cuba, compounding the impact of the U.S. economic embargo that’s been in place since 1962. On Monday, Spain’s Foreign Ministry said it would use United Nations channels to send humanitarian aid to Cuba. The announcement came a day after activists rallied outside the Cuban Embassy in Mexico City, expressing solidarity with the Cuban people, while protesting the U.S. blockade.

Ivon Guerra: “Faced with this attack that aims to leave Cuba without energy for hospitals, without fuel for its ambulances, without resources to bring food to the family table, solidarity between peoples is emerging today as the most powerful antidote against the blockade, because, while the United States government imposes sanctions and punishment, dignified governments and peoples, like Mexico’s, respond with brotherhood.”