Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel has issued a response to a U.S. State Department report which brands the Cuban regime as the "capital of 21st-century communism."
Díaz-Canel labeled the Trump administration's document as "propaganda pamphlet." He took the occasion to highlight the approaching centennial of Fidel Castro's birth, declaring that the deceased communist leader "lives on and vows to continue championing battles for a better world."
His remarks were made during the closing session of the VII Ordinary Period of the X Legislature of the National Assembly of People's Power (ANPP), held on July 30 at Havana's Palace of Conventions.
The document that prompted Díaz-Canel's response was released on July 20 by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. It accuses the Cuban regime of maintaining over six decades of espionage operations, institutional infiltration, and support for leftist extremist networks, as well as pointing out strategic alliances with Russia, China, and Iran.
Díaz-Canel denounced the report as "the latest attempt to distort history" and charged the Trump administration with concocting justifications for a potential military intervention in Cuba.
Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez had already condemned the report as a "libelous pamphlet" on July 22, aligning with the president's rhetoric.
Díaz-Canel's Focus on Reviving Fidel Castro's Legacy
The Cuban leader placed heavy emphasis on the legacy of Fidel Castro, as the centennial of the dictator's birth approaches. Castro passed away in November 2016.
"Fidel's ideas are flourishing with surprising vigor among people of all generations, across continents, and from the most diverse political schools," Díaz-Canel proclaimed. He added, "Fidel is no longer just ours; he is growing and multiplying."
In the same speech, Díaz-Canel characterized the U.S. government as a "neofascist regime," accusing it of repeating "some of the horrors unleashed by German fascism in the first half of the 20th century in its expansionist drive."
The Cuban leader concluded by asserting that the Cuban government will persist in its direct stance against the United States: "We are not a nation in contention nor a colony. We are a sovereign people who have determined our own destiny."
Key Insights on Cuba's Political Stance
What did Díaz-Canel say about Fidel Castro in his recent speech?
Díaz-Canel emphasized that Fidel Castro's ideas are gaining renewed vigor globally, asserting that Castro's influence is expanding beyond Cuba.
How did Díaz-Canel describe the recent U.S. State Department report?
He labeled the report as a "propaganda pamphlet" and accused the Trump administration of attempting to distort history to justify potential military actions against Cuba.