The Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of America (ALBA) issued a statement on Saturday firmly rejecting an escalating series of threats by the United States government to use force against Cuba, a move the regional bloc says would further endanger stability across Latin America and the Caribbean.

Expressing “deep concern and firm rejection” of Washington’s actions, ALBA reaffirmed its commitment to international law, the peaceful resolution of disputes, and unconditional respect for the self-determination, sovereignty, and independence of nations.

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The alliance called on the international community to resolutely oppose any threat against the Caribbean nation and urged the Trump administration to choose the path of “respectful dialogue on equal terms, without threats or conditions,” in full compliance with the United Nations Charter.

ALBA’s member states reiterated their willingness to foster understanding among nations and stressed the importance of preserving Latin America and the Caribbean as a zone of peace, with civilized coexistence as the only acceptable means of settling differences.

The statement comes in response to remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who said Friday that he intended to “take control of Cuba.” Speaking at a political and business forum in Florida, Trump linked the proposed action to the completion of U.S. military objectives in Iran and suggested that the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln could be redeployed to the Caribbean after concluding its mission in the Middle East.

On the same day, the U.S. president signed an executive order tightening the economic embargo against Cuba with new unilateral coercive measures. The order threatens banking and financial sanctions against individuals or entities that do business with designated Cuban organizations.

The latest escalation adds to an oil embargo imposed by Trump last January, which has already pushed Cuba’s energy crisis to extreme levels.

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