A recent discussion featuring writer Zoé Valdés, political analyst Julio Shiling, and scientist César Reynel Aguilera highlighted what they describe as a significant shift: the American left is now openly displaying its connections with the Castro regime, rather than concealing them.
The catalyst for this debate was the visit of four Democratic congress members to Cuba from July 9 to 13, 2026. This trip coincided with the fifth anniversary of the 11J protests. Teresa Leger Fernández, Delia Catalina Ramírez, Maxine Elizabeth Dexter, and Mark Pocan met with Miguel Díaz-Canel in Havana, describing the island's situation as a "silent Gaza," a term Pocan attributed to a Cuban citizen he encountered on the streets of the capital.
"In the past, the American left was very cautious about any ties to Castro's intelligence or the Castro regime. That's not the case anymore," remarked Reynel Aguilera. The reference to Nancy Pelosi—who led a delegation of nine Democratic congress members to Havana in February 2015 during the Obama thaw—serves as a symbol of this historical pattern, which, according to the participants, is now carried out without any pretense.
Democratic Visits and Their Implications
Reynel Aguilera criticized the Democratic Party for sending a "bunch of bandits" to Havana during the anniversary of July 11, suggesting a blatant pattern of Democratic visits to the island.
Shiling provided a historical account of Castro's influence on U.S. politics, tracing back to the 1960s and 70s with radical groups like the Black Panthers and the Weather Underground, and referencing the case of Senator George McGovern. However, Aguilera distinguished the past from the present by highlighting that current congress members have access to intelligence committees and confidential information. "It's on a whole different level now," he stated.
Growing Influence and Political Dynamics
Aguilera emphasized that the current situation is qualitatively different, pointing to the Congressional Black Caucus as a sphere of Castro's influence.
The July visit was not an isolated event. In April 2026, congresswomen Pramila Jayapal and Jonathan Jackson had already traveled to Havana to meet with Díaz-Canel, marking the first of two Democratic visits in under four months. In May, a group of 32 Democratic legislators called for a change in U.S. policy toward Cuba, and in June, they attempted to block measures by the Trump Administration against the island.
Shiling was unequivocal in stating that this activity is not new to U.S. security agencies. "The FBI has extensive information on 67 years of Castro-communism activism in U.S. groups... and an extraordinary presence aimed at destabilizing the United States."
Aguilera, meanwhile, pointed to an electoral dimension to this phenomenon. He suggested that the Democratic Party's plan was to use newly exiled Cuban dissidents to undermine the political control of the Cuban community in South Florida. "The plan didn't work because Trump got re-elected," he stated.
At the time of the Democratic congress members' visit in July, Cuba had between 1,281 and 1,306 political prisoners, with at least 338 linked to the 11J protests—a reality that the visiting legislators did not address in their public statements.
Understanding the Political Climate in Cuba
What was the purpose of the Democratic congress members' visit to Cuba in July 2026?
The visit coincided with the fifth anniversary of the 11J protests, and the congress members met with Miguel Díaz-Canel in Havana. They described Cuba's situation as a "silent Gaza," highlighting their open engagement with the island.
How does the current engagement with Cuba differ from past interactions according to the discussion participants?
Participants like César Reynel Aguilera noted that unlike in the past, the American left no longer hides its ties with the Castro regime. Current congress members have access to intelligence committees and confidential information, marking a new level of engagement.
What influence does the Castro regime have on U.S. politics according to Julio Shiling?
Shiling traced the influence back to the 1960s and 70s, with groups like the Black Panthers and the Weather Underground, and stressed that this influence continues today with the aim to destabilize the United States.