Cuba Stands Firm Amid Post-Maduro Challenges

Cuba Faces Challenges After Maduro's Departure

Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel held a rally in Havana to support Venezuela, condemning Washington's military operation. After Venezuela, no other nation in America is more affected by the events in Caracas than Cuba. The two countries have shared a common political vision based on state socialism following the historic meeting between Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez and Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro in 1999. Their relations have strengthened over the years, and after the deaths of both leaders, Nicolás Maduro, trained in Cuba, became Chávez's chosen successor.

Maduro's forced exit from power by the U.S. elite Delta Force team brings grim prospects for Cuba. The Cuban government has vehemently condemned the attack as illegal and declared two days of national mourning for the 32 Cubans killed in the operation. These deaths underline Cuba's influence over the Venezuelan presidency and military, with security details composed almost entirely of Cuban bodyguards.

Although Cuba has denied the presence of active soldiers or security agents in Venezuela, released political prisoners have stated that they were interrogated by individuals with Cuban accents. The robust connection between the two nations is a source of tension, with some ministers believing that Venezuela is not receiving enough in return for its oil, despite impressive daily deliveries of 35,000 barrels.

The economic crisis in Cuba has worsened, with power outages lasting for months. The impact on Cubans is devastating: weeks without reliable electricity, food rotting in refrigerators, unbearable conditions due to heat, and outbreaks of mosquito-borne diseases. Cuba's healthcare system, once considered a model, is struggling to cope with this situation.

Amidst this context, speculation that the flow of Venezuelan oil could be halted by the new leader, Delcy Rodríguez, fills Cubans with fear, especially in light of pressures from the Trump administration demanding full compliance from the Venezuelan government.

Nevertheless, despite the hardships, Cuba remains steadfast. Díaz-Canel promised that the 32 "brave Cuban combatants" would be honored for their courage in the face of "terrorists in imperial uniforms."