On Saturday, Miguel Díaz-Canel led a fervent rally at the Anti-Imperialist Tribune in Havana, delivering a passionate speech defending the regime of Nicolás Maduro. Hours earlier, Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were apprehended during a U.S. military operation in Venezuela.
The event, hastily organized by the Cuban regime, gathered Communist Party members, students, and workers mobilized by official organizations. The government described the demonstration as an act of revolutionary solidarity in response to the capture of the Chavista leader.
Expressing visible agitation, Díaz-Canel condemned the U.S. operation as "state terrorism" and labeled it a "cowardly, criminal, and treacherous act" that resulted in the "abduction" of a Latin American president.
In a speech filled with rhetoric reminiscent of Fidel Castro and José Martí, the Cuban leader accused Washington of attempting to "impose neo-fascism worldwide" under the leadership of Donald Trump.
"The land of Bolívar is sacred, and an attack on its children is an attack on all the worthy children of Our America," Díaz-Canel declared, as the crowd erupted in chants of "Homeland or death!"
With a combative tone, Díaz-Canel vowed that Cuba "will not abandon Venezuela." He asserted that both he and the Cuban people are prepared to "shed their own blood and even give their lives" to defend their South American ally, but warned, "at a very high cost."
Denouncing U.S. Actions
During his address, Díaz-Canel accused Donald Trump of being "the greatest threat to peace in the Americas."
He reiterated full support for the Chavista regime and called for unity among progressive forces in Latin America and the international community against what he described as "an imperial and fascist offensive against humanity."
According to Díaz-Canel, the U.S. government has spent months building a narcoterrorism case against Maduro but has failed to present any evidence because "no such evidence exists."
The speech, broadcast by Cuban state television, was seen as a political maneuver to reinforce the anti-U.S. narrative amid Cuba's internal crisis, characterized by power outages, shortages, and social unrest.
Maduro's Legal Battle
Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores are currently in U.S. custody aboard a military ship en route to New York, where they face charges of drug trafficking and criminal conspiracy filed by the Department of Justice.
FAQs on U.S.-Cuba-Venezuela Relations
What are the charges against Nicolás Maduro?
Nicolás Maduro faces charges of drug trafficking and criminal conspiracy, as presented by the U.S. Department of Justice.
How did Díaz-Canel describe the U.S. operation in Venezuela?
Díaz-Canel described the U.S. operation as "state terrorism," calling it a "cowardly, criminal, and treacherous act."
What was the purpose of the rally in Havana led by Díaz-Canel?
The rally was organized as an act of revolutionary solidarity in response to the capture of Nicolás Maduro, reinforcing Cuba's support for the Venezuelan regime.