Carlos Fernández de Cossío, Cuba's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, recently took to social media to criticize U.S. sanctions, accusing the architects of these policies of underestimating the Cuban people's intelligence.
The official argued that criticism concerning the use of imported fuel in Cuba is part of a "cognitive war" aimed at misleading the public.
In his statement, he justified that the imported oil is utilized "to generate electricity, transport citizens, and maintain essential services," dismissing accusations of misallocation or favoritism as "utter nonsense."
However, Fernández de Cossío's comments did little to clarify the situation, instead highlighting the tired rhetoric of the Cuban government.
While mentioning a "cognitive war," he failed to address why Cubans continue to suffer from frequent blackouts, inadequate transportation, and hospitals lacking fuel for their generators.
He claimed that the oil is intended "for the people's well-being," yet the population endures daily power outages, long lines at gas stations, and an economy crippled by energy shortages.
The narrative of "external aggression" resurfaces as a convenient excuse to explain the inexcusable: a government unable to manage its resources, stuck in outdated rhetoric, ensnared by its own lies and manipulations, and deeply corrupt.
The regime's problem is that this story no longer convinces anyone. Cubans don't need a "cognitive war" to understand their daily reality: inefficiency, wastefulness, and a lack of transparency from a system clinging to a worn-out discourse while the nation falters.
In Cuba, the people are not empty-headed. It's the totalitarian power and the official narrative trying to justify it that are devoid of substance.
Addressing U.S. Sanctions and Cuban Realities
What did Carlos Fernández de Cossío say about U.S. sanctions?
Carlos Fernández de Cossío criticized U.S. sanctions, accusing their proponents of underestimating the intelligence of the Cuban people and engaging in a "cognitive war" to confuse the public.
How are imported fuels used in Cuba according to the government?
The Cuban government claims that imported fuels are used for generating electricity, transporting citizens, and maintaining essential services.
Why does the Cuban populace remain skeptical of official narratives?
Cubans remain skeptical due to persistent inefficiencies, wastefulness, and lack of transparency from a government stuck in outdated rhetoric, which fails to justify the daily hardships they face.