Cuba announced Wednesday that it will engage in a week of previously scheduled nationwide military exercises to prepare for any actions by "enemies."
The Communist nation didn’t directly link the actions to Trump’s surprising election as the next U.S. president on Tuesday, but the "Bastion Strategic Exercise" Cuba has held every few years since 1980 is typically held at times of higher tension with the U.S., Reuters reported.
Cuban leaders and the Cuban people are worried because Trump has threatened to undo all of current President Barack Obama’s moves toward more open relations with Cuba, which have led to increases in tourism there and more prosperity for the people.
Obama restored diplomatic relations with Cuba two years ago and lifted trade and travel restrictions that had existed since the 1959 revolution there.
Trump did say in a mid-October interview with CBS that he would do whatever it takes “to get a strong agreement” with Cuba’s government, Reuters reported, so it is not known whether he will immediately roll back engagement or whether other requirements will be set for continuing better relations with the island.
The military exercises will take place from Nov. 16 to 20 and will involve troop movements, flights over land, and explosions, ABC News reported. Cuban newspapers announced the exercises in red ink across the top page of the Wednesday edition.
Not all Cubans support the increased coziness between the U.S. and Cuba, however.
“There’s been a lot of rejection of what’s been done with Obama,” retired Cuban diplomat Carlos Alzugaray said, ABC reported. “Many Cubans think that a situation of confrontation is better for the revolution.”
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