Cuba condemns US action in Venezuela as tens of thousands rally in Havana

Tens of thousands of Cubans rallied on Friday (16 January) outside the U.S. Embassy in Havana, protesting the killing of 32 Cuban officers in Venezuela and calling for the release of former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro.

The government-organised demonstration followed a U.S. raid in Caracas on 3 January aimed at detaining Maduro to face drug trafficking charges. The Cuban officers were part of his security detail and were killed during the operation.

President Miguel Díaz-Canel accused United States President Donald Trump of escalating pressure on Cuba, amid tightened sanctions and warnings that Havana would lose access to Venezuelan oil.

Díaz-Canel said Cuba remained open to dialogue, but only “on equal terms and with mutual respect.”

ℹ️ AP News

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People carry a Cuban flag during a government-organized rally protesting the killing of Cuban officers in Venezuela while U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, in Havana, Cuba, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
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Cuba condemns US action in Venezuela as thousands rally in Havana
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