On Monday, Miguel Díaz-Canel openly acknowledged that Cuba's economic model has long relied on the support of the Soviet Union, China, and Venezuela. He emphasized that the time has come for the nation to progress through "its own efforts" without depending on foreign allies.
This statement was made during an interview with Russia's state-run RT en Español, where the leader defended the economic reforms his government is implementing to tackle the island's most severe crisis since the Special Period.
"The time has arrived for us to be capable, through our own efforts and talents, of not being reliant on anyone and moving forward without abandoning our principles. But to achieve this, adjustments and a series of decisions are necessary," he declared.
Addressing concerns about economic measures potentially increasing social inequality, Díaz-Canel reflected on the regime's recent history, admitting the dependency that has characterized Cuba's economy.
"We were almost encased in a glass bubble, heavily dependent on trade with socialist countries, especially the Soviet Union. After moving past that stage, we also depended on relationships with other friendly nations, like China and Venezuela," he stated.
Initially, the leader expressed personal conflict over the government's decisions.
"Of course it pains me, mainly because it contradicts the principles in which I was raised and educated," he said.
In justifying the current economic direction, he referenced Fidel Castro's approach during the Special Period.
According to Díaz-Canel, Castro acknowledged, "without mincing words," the difficulty of accepting "capitalist practices" to keep the system afloat.
"Above all, saving the revolution was paramount," he recalled.
The Impact of Reforms
The leader also admitted that the measures taken in the 1990s had social consequences that persist today.
He noted that the legalization of foreign currency possessions "began creating social inequalities" and attributed issues like prostitution and increased drug use to the opening of tourism.
"Prostitution proliferated, which is a painful issue for us, given the women's emancipation progress achieved by the revolution, and it's a phenomenon we continue to confront," he asserted.
Acknowledging the Energy Crisis
These statements come amid a deep economic and energy crisis.
In the same interview, Díaz-Canel admitted that Cuba has not received fuel from Venezuela for six months and that only one Russian ship has arrived during that time as humanitarian aid.
"No fuel ship has arrived in six months; only one Russian ship came as humanitarian aid," he confirmed.
The fuel shortage has worsened blackouts affecting much of the country and prompted the government to implement the most significant economic reform package since the 1990s.
Among the 176 measures approved by the National Assembly in June are the authorization of private banking, the removal of worker limits for small and medium-sized enterprises, and the expansion of foreign investment in various sectors.
Díaz-Canel assured that by the end of July, the government would be ready to apply 121 of these measures, describing the process as "a creative process of resistance," insisting it does not signify an abandonment of the socialist model.
"The art of politics is finding compensatory mechanisms within complexity and adversity to prevent the widening of inequality gaps," he concluded.
Understanding Cuba's Economic Transition
Why is Cuba seeking economic independence now?
Cuba is aiming for economic independence to progress through its own efforts, reduce reliance on foreign allies, and address the country's severe economic crisis.
What are some of the economic reforms mentioned by Díaz-Canel?
The reforms include authorizing private banking, removing limits on workers for small and medium-sized enterprises, and expanding foreign investment in various sectors.