The Venezuelan National Assembly, dominated by the Chavismo movement, delivered a resolution to the Cuban Embassy in Caracas on Monday, declaring those who perished during the U.S. military operation on January 3rd as "heroes and martyrs." Among the deceased were 32 Cuban military personnel who lost their lives in the Venezuelan capital, according to reports from EFE.
Unanimously approved on January 8th, the document was presented as a testament to the "unbreakable brotherhood" between the two governments and as a tribute to those the Venezuelan Parliament deems victims of what it describes as a foreign military intervention.
The declaration came just days after Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López confirmed the operation resulted in the deaths of at least 47 Venezuelan soldiers and left more than a hundred wounded, including nine women among the deceased.
Commemoration and Propaganda in Cuba
While official speeches and symbolic recognitions multiply in Caracas, in Cuba, the regime has orchestrated a series of tributes that have turned the mourning for the 32 soldiers killed in Venezuela into a demonstration of political control and grand narrative.
Funeral processions escorted by troops, caskets draped with the Cuban flag making their way through Havana's main avenues, honor guards, and military ceremonies have characterized the funerals, where the state's presence has overshadowed that of the families.
Images released by the official press show groups of military personnel, cadets, state employees, and students mobilized to attend the events, creating scenes that appear meticulously arranged, far from a private mourning.
State-Driven Narratives
The central ceremony was held at José Martí International Airport and continued at the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, where caskets were aligned under a narrative of "fallen in combat," sidestepping the years-long denial of Cuban military presence in Venezuela by the regime itself.
Ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel reinforced this narrative during a tribute at the Anti-Imperialist Platform, extolling the deceased as "titans" who, in his words, gave their lives "to the last bullet."
In his speech, the leader once again cast the United States as the primary adversary, using the military deaths to bolster his confrontational rhetoric at a time when the island is enduring a severe economic and social crisis.
The Political Symbolism of Sacrifice
Beyond the official speeches and honors, these events have unveiled a reality long kept silent: the Cubans killed in Caracas were not engaged in a humanitarian mission nor defending national territory, but were part of a security apparatus for an allied government.
Now, in both Venezuela and Cuba, their deaths are being leveraged as a political symbol, while uncomfortable questions about the human cost of this alliance remain unanswered.
Understanding the Implications of the Venezuelan Resolution
What prompted the Venezuelan Parliament to declare Cuban casualties as "heroes"?
The Venezuelan Parliament, influenced by Chavismo, declared the Cuban casualties as "heroes" to emphasize the strong alliance between Venezuela and Cuba, portraying them as victims of foreign intervention.
How has Cuba reacted to the deaths of its military personnel in Venezuela?
Cuba has orchestrated state-driven tributes, including military honors and public ceremonies, to highlight the deaths as part of a larger political narrative, using them to reinforce governmental and ideological control.
What is the broader significance of these events for Cuba and Venezuela?
These events highlight the deep political and military ties between Cuba and Venezuela, using the deaths as symbols to strengthen internal narratives and distract from pressing domestic issues like economic and social crises.