The Cuban ambassador to the United Nations, Ernesto Soberón Guzmán, declared that terms like "collapse," "betrayal," and "resignation" are absent from the Cuban people's vocabulary.
"These words are not in our dictionary, even when we face such a complicated situation," he stated, echoing the rhetoric commonly used by Cuban leaders. "Instead, our lexicon includes resistance, resilience, and finding solutions to our problems," Soberón remarked during an interview with Democracy Now.
The ambassador reiterated familiar arguments from the Cuban elite, who often call for sacrifices from ordinary Cubans while blaming the United States for the island's challenges. "This isn't the first time we encounter such circumstances. The strategy has always been to create as many problems as possible, a tactic dating back to 1960 when Secretary of State Lester Mallory suggested that the only way to overthrow the Cuban government was to induce economic hardships so severe that the Cuban people couldn't withstand them," he elaborated.
Soberón emphasized, "History has shown that we've endured for the past sixty-seven years, and we are prepared to keep seeking solutions to our issues." He concluded with a rhetorical question, "Why does the U.S. feel the need to act this way against a small country like Cuba?"
U.S. Criticism of Cuba's Leadership
In stark contrast to such typical statements, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a sharp critique of Cuba's leadership this Saturday. He focused on the island's severe economic decline and the Cuban government's reluctance to implement structural reforms.
Rubio characterized the current crisis as a direct result of an outdated political and economic model, asserting that the regime's desire to maintain absolute control over all strategic sectors is the main impediment. "The fundamental issue in Cuba is the lack of a functioning economy, and the leaders in charge don't know how to improve their people's daily lives without relinquishing power over the sectors they dominate," Rubio said, as reported by European sources.
According to Rubio, the ruling elite faces a critical choice they refuse to address: either open avenues for economic growth or persist in wielding hegemonic power, which has led to structural stagnation. "They want to control everything; they don't want the Cuban people to have any control," he emphasized.
He further asserted that even when presented with opportunities to make changes, "they seem incapable of understanding or accepting them in any way."
Understanding Cuba's Economic and Political Challenges
Why does the Cuban ambassador claim certain words are not in the Cuban dictionary?
The Cuban ambassador claims that words like "collapse," "betrayal," and "resignation" are not in the Cuban dictionary to emphasize the resilience and determination of the Cuban people to face challenges, aligning with the propaganda of Cuban leaders.
What criticism did U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio express?
Marco Rubio criticized the Cuban leadership for the island's economic decline, attributing it to an outdated political and economic model and the regime's refusal to implement necessary reforms.
What historical tactic did the Cuban ambassador reference?
The Cuban ambassador referenced a tactic from 1960, suggested by Lester Mallory, to create economic hardships so severe that they would destabilize the Cuban government, a strategy they claim is still in use by the U.S.