A video released by the Havana Military Region features a Cuban officer delivering an impassioned speech, urging “all those defending just causes of humanity worldwide” not to tire or yield.
Amidst the official “preparation for defense 2026” campaign led by the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR), the officer energetically and somewhat incoherently quoted a passage from José Martí's poem "To My Dead Brothers on November 27", often used in official rhetoric to evoke patriotic fervor: "When one dies in the arms of a grateful homeland / Death ends, the prison breaks / Life begins, at last, with dying!"
Posted on the institutional profile with the message “the new generations of young defenders of the homeland are ready to offer their lives in defense of the homeland”, the video sparked a wave of reactions on social media. On CiberCuba Noticias' Facebook page, where the clip was shared, hundreds of mocking comments poured in: “Was that a speech or a spell?”, “Sounds like a witchcraft ritual”, “Even with subtitles, it's incomprehensible”, and “He’ll be the first to run when the Americans arrive”. Others likened the speaker to reggaeton artists or comedic characters, highlighting how official fervor has become a source of popular humor.
The viral speech comes amid an escalating propaganda effort by the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (MINFAR), which has ramped up its messaging on social media and state media in recent days. In a recent post, the ministry warned of a supposed “genocide” if socialism falls in Cuba, asserting that “the flags of the Revolution and socialism will not be surrendered without a fight” and that any potential “enemy victory” would result in “needless bloodshed”. Another message claimed “no enemy will be safe in Cuba” and “all sophisticated means are vulnerable”.
This new propaganda cycle includes the launch of the “Year of Defense Preparation 2026”, a FAR campaign aimed at “strengthening military invulnerability” against the backdrop of a severe economic crisis and widespread social discontent. This offensive also features a video of cadets involved in a “military fantasy” that went viral for its absurdity, as well as Western Army maneuvers criticized by many Cubans who noted, “there's no fuel for ambulances, but plenty for war”.
Public response to these messages has largely been one of ridicule, skepticism, and weariness. Comments on the video from the Havana Military Region criticized the “theatricality” of the speeches, the use of empty slogans, and the regime's disconnect from the reality of a nation grappling with blackouts, inflation, and widespread shortages.
While the government continues its calls to arms, much of the population appears to respond with irony. Military speeches on social media no longer provoke fear or patriotic fervor, but rather laughter and bewilderment at a power that speaks of trenches while the people struggle daily to survive.
Public Reaction to Cuban Military Propaganda
What was the public's reaction to the Cuban military speech?
The public largely reacted with mockery, skepticism, and fatigue, criticizing the speech's theatricality and the regime's detachment from Cuba's current hardships.
What is the "Year of Defense Preparation 2026" campaign?
It is a campaign by the Revolutionary Armed Forces aimed at strengthening military defense capabilities amidst Cuba's ongoing economic crisis and social unrest.