Former spy Gerardo Hernández Nordelo, who serves as the national coordinator of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR), seems stuck in a bygone era. Despite the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX) announcing on Sunday its willingness to cooperate with the United States, Hernández Nordelo continues to extol Fidel Castro and call for a “revolution” that now only exists in outdated school textbooks of the old regime.
“Here, even four-year-olds know what Revolution and fatherland mean,” Hernández Nordelo quoted on social media, tagging the late dictator with hashtags of eternal glory and imaginary victories. His message, reminiscent of 1980s propaganda rather than the insights of a 2026 political leader, highlights the disconnect between Havana's new diplomatic narrative and the fossilized language of popular castrism.
Under the leadership of Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, the Cuban Foreign Ministry has begun to advocate for “respectful dialogue” and adherence to “international standards,” yet Hernández Nordelo, from his imagined heroic fortress, continues to idolize his bearded hero, the children in scarves, and the epic of the trench.
It's hardly surprising: in recent months, Hernández Nordelo has become something of an influencer in the realm of absurd revolutionary rhetoric. From his office in the CDR, the former spy appears determined to personify the most fevered nostalgia for castrism, even as MINREX removes the term “blockade” from its official discourse.
In mid-January, he resurfaced on social media wielding a Soviet PKM machine gun, lying on a mattress and sporting a Rolex—a scene that mixed tropical Rambo with a museum selfie—proclaiming that “the people desire peace but will not be surprised by war.”
Weeks later, he attempted to mock graffiti on the Malecón that read “Enough. Cuba to the streets.” The result was the opposite: he ended up amplifying the opposition's message and giving it international exposure.
But the tipping point came on January 30, when he shared a photo of an Argentine baby in an incubator, claiming it illustrated the supposed effects of the “blockade” on Cuban children's health. The image was actually sourced from the Materna Argentina image bank.
Through armed selfies, patriotic memes, and exported fake news, Hernández Nordelo seems intent on proving that disinformation remains the only battle castrism is adept at fighting. While the regime experiments with a language of cooperation with the U.S., its neighborhood spokesperson clings to the same old script: resurrecting Fidel each time reality shows that the so-called “revolution” is out of breath.
Understanding the Current Cuban Political Climate
What role does Gerardo Hernández Nordelo play in Cuba?
Gerardo Hernández Nordelo is the national coordinator of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR) in Cuba and has become a prominent figure due to his nostalgic promotion of the revolutionary ideals of Fidel Castro.
How is MINREX changing its approach towards the United States?
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Cuba is shifting towards a narrative of "respectful dialogue" and "international standards" in its dealings with the United States, moving away from its traditional rhetoric.
Why has Gerardo Hernández Nordelo been criticized for sharing a photo of an Argentine baby?
Hernández Nordelo faced criticism for using a photo of an Argentine baby in an incubator to falsely claim it illustrated the effects of the U.S. "blockade" on Cuban children's health, when it was actually from an Argentine image bank.