Cuba's deputy foreign minister says its military is preparing for possible 'military aggression' from the U.S.

Cuba’s deputy foreign minister said that the nation’s military is involved in ongoing preparations for “the possibility of military aggression” from the U.S.

Cuba’s deputy foreign minister on Saturday said that the nation’s military is involved in ongoing preparations for “the possibility of military aggression” from the U.S., adding that it would be “naive” for Cuba’s leaders to ignore the possibility of conflict with the U.S.

“Our military is always prepared, and in fact, it is preparing these days for the possibility of military aggression,” Carlos Fernández de Cossío told NBC News’ “Meet the Press” in an interview that aired Sunday.

He added, “we would be naive,” not to consider the possibility of conflict “looking at what’s happening around the world.”

Fernández de Cossío said the country’s leaders “truly hope that it doesn’t occur. We don’t see why it would have to occur, and we find no justification whatsoever.”

His comments come amid an escalation in tensions between the U.S. and Cuba following the U.S. military operation in Venezuela that led to the capture of that nation’s president, Nicolas Maduro, who had a close relationship with Cuba’s leadership.