Cuban state media and official accounts of the Cuban military last weekend released numerous images of citizens holding rifles, practicing shooting in rural areas, and participating in military training activities.

These activities are part of All-People Defense Day, conducted under the "all-people war" doctrine to counter external threats, in case tensions escalate beyond control.

General Florencio Navas Guevara, chief of staff of the Eastern Army Group, directly oversaw the exercises in the provincial capital's defense zone, including practical operations by local military agencies.

Osbel Lorenzo Rodriguez, President of the Las Tunas Provincial Defense Council, stated that all residents in the province "must know exactly what they need to do when facing enemy aggression". He announced that in the current phase, mandatory military, political, and ideological training would be conducted every saturday.

Images show that during the training sessions, male and female civilians of various ages were instructed on disassembling, assembling, and operating AK rifles in activities described as "territorial defense".

Cuban reservists conduct live-fire exercises in Matanzas province on 10/1. Photo: *Facebook/EjercitoCentralCuba*.

Cuba's Granma newspaper reported that diverse exercise programs were implemented across the country's provinces.

Training content in Matanzas province focused on combat capabilities and territorial defense using various weapons, ranging from live-fire exercises to rocket deployment and technical inspection of tanks. The drills involved the Provincial Defense Council, 13 municipal defense councils, militia forces, regular units, and key agencies and enterprises.

Meanwhile, in Camaguey, exercises simulated responses to scenarios where national economic targets were attacked. Units practiced methods to maintain production, ensure communication, and organize logistics for the populace. Training activities included air defense, artillery, engineering, special operations, and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operation, with many citizens participating.

In Las Tunas, the focus of All-People Defense Day was on assessing the ability to transition to wartime conditions, with practical activities such as: using gas masks, disassembling and assembling firearms, throwing grenades, live-fire shooting, operating unmanned aerial vehicles, and training to shoot down UAVs.

The Cuban military conducts military training in Cienfuegos province on 10/1. Photo: *Granma*.

This move comes amid continuous pressure and strong messages from Washington targeting Havana, particularly since US forces raided Caracas to apprehend Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

US President Donald Trump on 11/1 declared that he would block all oil and financial transactions from Venezuela to Cuba, simultaneously warning that Havana should reach an agreement with Washington soon "before it's too late".

According to maritime shipping data, since the US strictly blockaded Venezuela's oil industry, no oil shipments have been transferred from Venezuela to Cuba. Last year, Venezuela exported approximately 26,500 barrels per day to Cuba, according to data from Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez also stated that Havana has the right to import fuel from any partner. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel refuted President Trump's threats, reiterating that Cuba is a free, independent, sovereign nation and "no one can order" it what to do.

"Cuba is not aggressive and threatens no one. We have faced aggression from the US for the past 66 years. Cuba is prepared and ready to defend its homeland to the last drop of blood", the Cuban President declared.

Thanh Danh (According to Granma, Reuters, Cibercuba)