Pro-regime singer-songwriter Raúl Torres wasted no time reacting. Just a day after Washington unveiled new sanctions against three officials from the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP), the troubadour and National Assembly deputy shared a poem on his Facebook page. This piece was dedicated to the institution and the sanctioned officials, transforming these political maneuvers into lyrical material for the regime.
US Sanctions and Torres' Poetic Response
This past Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced sanctions targeting Fernando González Llort, Noemí Ramona Rabaza Fernández, and Leima Martínez Freire, along with eight Cuban state enterprises and the Ministry of Construction. Rubio accused the regime of using ICAP to "infiltrate, corrupt, and radicalize" American citizens.
In response, Torres, ever the regime's poet, penned verses that would make any propaganda writer blush: "Today, once more, the empire has tried / to uproot the names / of those who build bridges. / But there are roots that know no fear: / they are called Fernando, Noemí, Leima; / they are called all of Cuba," he wrote. His lyrical piece bore the not-so-original title "ICAP."
Martyrdom and Defiance in Verse
For those questioning Torres' geopolitical insights, his text elevates the sanctioned individuals to martyr status: "And the three sanctioned brothers, / are dignity personified, / tenderness turned trench, / the Cuba that neither sells out nor surrenders." The sanctions, of course, are no concern: "We do not cry over sanctions; / we wear them like stars on our chest."
The poem concludes with a grandiose call for international solidarity: "Because solidarity is not punished: / it is sown, / watered with the sweat of the people / and blooms with every sunrise. […] Thank you, infinite thanks, / for holding our hand!"
Omissions and the Harsh Reality
What Torres conveniently overlooks in his "poetic" elegance is Fernando González Llort's past. As ICAP president since 2017, he's a former member of the Wasp Network, convicted of espionage in the United States. This institution, hailed with such fervor, was already sanctioned as an entity on June 4, 2026, alongside the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution and Amistur Cuba S.A., under Executive Order 14404 signed by Donald Trump.
This Friday's publication marks the latest chapter in Torres' lyrical-propaganda saga throughout 2026. Recently, he acknowledged that "the people are giving their last breath" and suggested breeding turtles, water buffalo, and hutias to tackle the food crisis, clarifying, "I’m a country boy, but that doesn’t mean I’m an agronomist or statesman." In June, he romanticized the crisis with "laughter among the cracks of collapse."
As Torres crafts verses, the reality in Cuba tells a starker tale: over 90% of households struggle to access essential goods, a pound of rice exceeds 300 pesos in the informal market, power outages last over 20 hours daily, and the economy has contracted by more than 15% since 2020.
Torres' pattern is as predictable as the blackouts: he points out symptoms, blames the "empire," and ends with slogans. What his poems never address is the uncomfortable question of why, after 67 years of dictatorship, the Cuban people still struggle to eat while their National Assembly representatives write odes to ICAP officials sanctioned by Marco Rubio.
Understanding the Impact of Sanctions on Cuba
What are the recent sanctions imposed on Cuban officials?
The recent sanctions, announced by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, target three ICAP officials, eight Cuban state enterprises, and the Ministry of Construction. These measures are part of efforts to counteract the regime's influence operations in the United States.
Who is Raúl Torres and what is his role in this context?
Raúl Torres is a pro-regime singer-songwriter and deputy in Cuba's National Assembly. He is known for creating propagandistic poetry that supports the Cuban government, often responding to international actions against the regime through his art.
How do these sanctions affect the Cuban economy?
Sanctions exacerbate existing economic challenges in Cuba, contributing to shortages of essential goods, prolonged power outages, and a significant economic contraction. These issues heighten the struggles of the Cuban population, already facing severe hardships.