A Venezuelan opposition leader has disclosed in an interview with Tania Costa the core strategy that has enabled the Cuban dictatorship to endure for over sixty years, which the Chavismo movement has adopted: the strategy of resilience encapsulated in the mantra, "if you resist, they give up."
Omar González Moreno, a national leader of Vente Venezuela, a party founded and led by María Corina Machado, elaborated on this with a telling detail that illustrates the calculated coldness of the Castro regime: displayed on the walls of the Cuban government headquarters are 14 photographs of U.S. Presidents, from Eisenhower to Trump II, serving as a constant reminder that the dictatorship has outlasted them all.
"The Castros in Cuba have 14 photographs of U.S. Presidents on the walls of the government headquarters as a type of reminder, a mantra that has been transferred to Venezuela: if you resist, they give up," González Moreno stated in an interview with CiberCuba.
González was clear in pointing out that Chavismo has learned this lesson well: "They are good students of the Castros in Cuba."
According to González, this same logic explains the Venezuelan regime's behavior in each negotiation round: pretending openness, conceding as little as possible, and buying time. "In past negotiations, they managed to get what they sought, which was simply to gain time to remain in power," he warned.
The opposition leader noted that the current regime's strategy—led by Delcy Rodríguez in the absence of Nicolás Maduro—is focused on a specific goal: the U.S. midterm elections. "Perhaps they're betting on the end of Trump's term and looking for loopholes to stay in power through deceit, hardship, and failures," he remarked.
This analysis comes amid the devastating June 24 earthquakes in Venezuela, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, the strongest recorded in the country since 1900. The official death toll has reached 2,295, with over 11,267 injured. NASA estimated that nearly 59,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed.
González attributes the scale of the catastrophe not only to the natural disaster but also to nearly three decades of Chavista corruption that dismantled hospitals, fire departments, and security forces. "They are currently on display before the world. This needs to be uprooted," he declared.
The leader also issued a direct appeal to the Trump administration not to repeat what he considers a failed experiment in Venezuela with Cuba. "Hopefully, Trump will finish the job and end this streak of Venezuela and Iran. Hopefully, he won't attempt an experiment like Venezuela's because we've seen the results."
González recalled that Venezuela historically had excellent relations with Washington. "The Venezuelan people admire the United States and are a great ally of the United States. I believe it has always had some of the best relations with the U.S. in the Americas until Chávez came and broke that tradition," he emphasized.
For the Vente Venezuela leader, the conclusion is clear-cut: "Castrismo and Chavismo need to be uprooted because if not, they gain time," and that time, he warned, always comes at the expense of the suffering of their peoples.
Insights on Castro and Maduro's Political Strategies
How has the Cuban regime managed to survive for over six decades?
The Cuban regime has endured through a strategy of resilience, encapsulated in their mantra "if you resist, they give up." This approach involves maintaining a strong stance and outlasting opposition.
What lesson has the Chavismo movement learned from Cuba?
Chavismo has adopted the Cuban strategy of pretending to be open but conceding very little, aiming to gain time and remain in power by outlasting opposition forces.
What impact did the June 24 earthquakes have on Venezuela?
The earthquakes were the most powerful since 1900, resulting in over 2,295 deaths and more than 11,267 injuries, with nearly 59,000 buildings damaged or destroyed according to NASA.