In a revealing interview with CiberCuba, Diego Suárez, co-founder of the Cuban American National Foundation (CANF) and a key witness to historical events, shared an untold story. Suárez disclosed that Fidel Castro's regime secretly threatened the United States with radio interference if Radio Martí began broadcasting in 1985.
Suárez, a prominent Cuban exile businessman who will celebrate his 100th birthday in November, stated that this information has never been publicly shared before: "This is the first time this truth is being told... These are historical truths, and I rely on historical facts."
Radio Interference Threats and Demonstrations
According to Suárez's account, the Cuban regime not only issued this threat but backed it up with a practical demonstration: "They interfered with two or three stations to show the Americans they could do it." This pressure kept the launch of Radio Martí on hold for weeks, despite President Ronald Reagan having signed the law authorizing the station in October 1983 and all technical preparations being complete.
A Decisive Meeting with President Reagan
The deadlock was broken thanks to a private meeting between Jorge Mas Canosa and President Reagan in early May 1985. "Jorge, with his leadership, went to that meeting with President Reagan, and President Reagan did everything he needed to do as president," Suárez recounted.
During the meeting, Reagan contacted the Pentagon and issued specific instructions: "Thirty days before we go on air, inform the Cuban government that if there is even a single interference from any station, the location from which those interferences originated will be bombed by the American air force."
Reagan's Unyielding Ultimatum
This ultimatum was directly communicated to Havana. "This was conveyed directly to Fidel Castro, and this is a scoop," emphasized Suárez.
According to Suárez, Reagan was resolute when his advisors expressed concerns about the risks: "President, but you know the risks involved," to which Reagan replied, "We are not going to take any risks."
Radio Martí began broadcasting on May 20, 1985, from transmitters in Marathon Key, Florida, on the AM frequency of 1180 kHz with 50,000 watts of power. Cuba did not follow through on its threat of massive interference.
The Legacy of Radio Martí and the CANF
The project was inspired by Radio Free Europe, established after World War II to broadcast to Soviet Bloc countries, aiming to provide truthful information to the Cuban people about events inside and outside the island.
The Cuban American National Foundation also championed the Torricelli Act and the Helms-Burton Act in the 1990s, the latter following the downing of Brothers to the Rescue planes.
In 2025, the Trump Administration ordered the dismantling of Radio and TV Martí, a decision that sparked strong reactions among Cuban exiles and advocates of press freedom for Cuba. Eventually, the technical closure was reversed.
Jorge Mas Canosa, the man who unlocked the launch of Radio Martí with that pivotal meeting at the White House, passed away in 1997. Diego Suárez believes the regime was behind his death. Now, in 2026, with nearly a century of life, he remains one of the last direct witnesses of that foundational era and is convinced that this will be the year of Cuba's freedom: "I don't just believe it; I am absolutely certain."
Insights on Reagan's Strategy Against Cuban Interference
What was the Cuban regime's threat against the United States in 1985?
The Cuban regime threatened to interfere with all central U.S. radio stations if Radio Martí commenced broadcasting.
How did President Reagan respond to the Cuban threat?
Reagan instructed the Pentagon to inform Cuba that any interference would result in U.S. air force bombings of the interference sources.
When did Radio Martí finally begin its broadcasts?
Radio Martí started broadcasting on May 20, 1985, from Marathon Key, Florida.