The Revolutionary Armed Forces' Prevention Troops, commonly referred to as the "Red Berets" and known for their role in suppressing dissent in Cuba, have pledged to safeguard a "more just, prosperous, and sustainable socialism." This declaration was made during a ceremony marking the 45th anniversary of their establishment.
The statement was broadcast in a report on the National Television News (NTV) concerning the political and military ceremony held to commemorate the founding of the Prevention Troops, initiated on September 11, 1981, by Raúl Castro.
"We will never betray the trust placed in us and will rise to the level of the heroes and martyrs of the homeland who shed their blood for our independence and for a socialism every day more just, prosperous, and sustainable," declared Brigadier General Félix Armando Torres Lauzao on behalf of the combatants and civilian workers of the unit during the ceremony.
This pronouncement arrives at a critical time for the Cuban regime, as its economic model faces scrutiny due to announced transformations by Miguel Díaz-Canel's government and the increasing room given to market mechanisms and the private sector.
In June, a package of 176 economic and social changes was approved by authorities aiming to pull the country out of a crisis characterized by a shortage of foreign currency, declining production, power outages, inflation, and deteriorating living conditions.
The reforms include greater involvement of the non-state sector, changes related to small and medium-sized enterprises, openness to new financial mechanisms, and enhanced interactions between private capital, foreign investment, and the state-controlled economy.
These reforms have sparked debate over the extent to which the regime is introducing elements traditionally associated with market economies while insisting on preserving the socialist system.
Cuban economist Pedro Monreal has questioned various aspects of the government’s economic program and its coherence, while others have pointed out the similarities between several of the reforms and capitalist instruments.
Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz asserted at the end of July that Cuba is not "deviating" from its socialist model, while Díaz-Canel also addressed the criticisms, stating that the economic changes "are not for more capitalism."
The leadership's insistence on clarifying this point underscores the political sensitivity of a debate touching on one of the ideological pillars used for decades to justify the Cuban economic system.
Commitment to Socialist Continuity
In this context, the Prevention Troops used their anniversary to reaffirm their commitment to socialist continuity. The event featured a message from Raúl Castro, who praised the unit members for their "iron discipline" and "high professionalism," emphasizing that they remain "steadfast and unyielding" in the face of what he called "hostile actions orchestrated by the enemies of the Revolution."
"In close unity with the Ministry of the Interior, they have dedicated their daily efforts to protecting the population and ensuring peace and citizen security," Castro stated in a letter read during the ceremony and broadcast on state television.
The official narrative contrasts sharply with the repressive history attributed to this force.
Role in Repression and International Sanctions
The Prevention Troops are part of the Cuban military structure and among their duties is supporting Military Counterintelligence, a task highlighted in the NTV report as one of the missions performed by the unit throughout its 45-year existence.
Their role gained particular prominence following the anti-government protests on July 11, 2021, when police, military, and regime-mobilized groups were deployed against thousands of Cubans who took to the streets across numerous towns.
In August of that year, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned the Prevention Troops for their involvement in repressing peaceful protesters during the July 11 demonstrations.
Human Rights Watch also documented arbitrary detentions and abuses committed by Cuban security forces in response to those protests.
The 45th-anniversary ceremony was presided over by several high-ranking officials, including the Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, Álvaro López Miera; the Minister of the Interior, Lázaro Alberto Álvarez Casas; and the First Deputy Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces and Chief of the General Staff, Roberto Legrá Sotolongo.
Raúl Castro also approved, at the suggestion of the Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, the awarding of a replica of the yacht Granma to the Prevention Troops for their service to the so-called "socialist homeland."
This event paints a significant picture of the current moment in Cuba: as the government introduces economic reforms that expand the role of market mechanisms, while being compelled to deny that these reforms signify a shift towards capitalism, one of the forces associated with its repressive apparatus vows to continue defending socialism and the political system's continuity.
Economic Reforms and Political Sensitivity in Cuba
What are the Prevention Troops in Cuba known for?
The Prevention Troops, or "Red Berets," are known for their involvement in suppressing dissent in Cuba and their role in supporting Military Counterintelligence.
How has the Cuban government responded to criticism of its economic reforms?
The Cuban government, including leaders like Díaz-Canel and Manuel Marrero Cruz, has insisted that the economic reforms are not a deviation towards capitalism but rather an enhancement of the socialist model.
What were the consequences for the Prevention Troops following the July 11 protests?
Following the July 11, 2021 protests, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned the Prevention Troops for their involvement in the repression of peaceful protesters.