In a revealing interview, Cuban author Daína Chaviano disclosed that a confidential source informed her about individuals within the Cuban military, even among the high-ranking officials, who silently oppose the Havana regime.
“I've heard from a source I cannot name that some individuals within the army, including those in the upper military echelons, who are not visible from the political machinery perspective, seem to oppose what's happening in Cuba and remain silent,” stated the author during an exclusive interview with journalist Tania Costa on CiberCuba.
The Need for Radical Change
During the same interview, the renowned writer expressed skepticism about the possibility of change originating from within Cuba. She used a popular saying to emphasize her belief that the regime won't relinquish power voluntarily.
“You have to set fire to dictatorships like the macao... because otherwise, they won't leave; they won't leave on their own,” declared Chaviano, who has been in exile in Miami since 1991, during the exclusive CiberCuba interview.
Chaviano firmly dismissed the idea that change might arise from within the island. “I don't believe it can come from inside the island,” she emphasized.
The phrase she used suggests initiating a drastic and irreversible action, creating a significant upheaval that would force a change that might not otherwise occur.
While she expressed hope that the regime would choose to step down, she acknowledged her doubts about it happening. “It would be great if they decided it was time to leave, but I don't think it will happen,” she said.
Hope for Swift Resolution
Speaking about the scenario she envisions, Chaviano was straightforward. “I would like it to be something very quick, to remove the main culprits of this situation, which is already unsustainable,” she argued.
The writer referenced the fall of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela on January 3 as a potential model. “I hope it would be something like Venezuela, which is what we are waiting for,” she added.
Military Dissent in the Ranks?
Chaviano's statements emerge amid increasing institutional tension. On January 18, 2026, the National Defense Council approved the transition to a State of War, a decision reflecting the regime's alarm over the country's internal situation.
The top brass of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) has emphasized that words like surrender and defeat are entirely erased from the institutional vocabulary, in rhetoric aiming to close any internal rifts.
Simultaneously, the regime has ramped up the militarization of university students, indicating the authorities' effort to expand their social control base amid a growingly discontented population.
This isn't the first time military dissent has been discussed. Cuban officers in exile have published manifestos urging their active FAR counterparts to dismantle the regime, albeit without visible outcomes thus far.
Some analysts and activists have pointed out that rebellion is a constitutional right in Cuba, an argument used to legitimize any resistance action from within state institutions.
However, internal control mechanisms make dissent extremely perilous. According to former Cuban military personnel in exile, Military Counterintelligence has been the regime's favored tool for monitoring, neutralizing, and repressing any dissenting voices within the armed forces.
The economic context exacerbates the situation further. Cuba has experienced an accumulated decline of over 15% since 2020, severely degrading the population's living conditions and, according to some experts, also the morale within military institutions.
Chaviano, who is preparing to republish her novel "El hombre, la hembra y el hambre" in Miami, has consistently maintained a critical stance against the Cuban regime from her exile, and her comments on potential military dissenters have sparked significant debate within the Cuban community.
Cuban Military Opposition: Insights and Implications
What did Daína Chaviano reveal about the Cuban military?
Daína Chaviano disclosed that some individuals within the Cuban military, even among high-ranking officials, silently oppose the regime, as informed by a confidential source.
How did Chaviano express her views on regime change in Cuba?
Chaviano expressed skepticism about change originating from within Cuba, using a saying to emphasize that the regime won't voluntarily give up power.
What does the increased militarization of students indicate?
The intensified militarization of university students suggests the regime's attempt to broaden its social control in response to escalating public discontent.