Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz advocated for democratic change in Cuba, stating that the Cuban people are enduring hunger and hardship. His remarks, made to Martí Noticias, came during the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
His comments closely followed U.S. President Donald Trump's address to the UN, where Trump labeled the Cuban regime as a "completely failed state" and predicted its downfall. This was among the more forceful parts of his speech to the international body.
The Struggles of the Cuban People
When asked about Trump's statements, Paz unhesitatingly agreed with the assessment of the island's dire situation. "The people in Cuba are hungry and suffering. Therefore, the state must transform because the state should serve the people, not itself, which is a fundamentally different concept," he told Martí Noticias.
Paz drew on his own country's experience to highlight the change he envisions for Cuba. "In my country, the state once served itself, with the people as secondary. That has changed," he remarked, referring to the two decades of government by Evo Morales's Movement for Socialism (MAS) before his leadership.
The Bolivian president concluded with a direct appeal for democracy as the path forward for Cuba: "I hope that in Cuba, with full respect and the supremacy of democracy, with a life of coexistence, the state will serve the people rather than itself."
The Context: Trump, the UN, and Cuba's Walkout
Paz's statements came amid a day of diplomatic tensions in New York. Trump told the General Assembly that the U.S. seeks a "fundamental change" in Cuba, asserting that the regime is "failing like never before." He also mentioned Secretary of State Marco Rubio's ongoing involvement in negotiations concerning Havana.
The Cuban delegation left the assembly hall during this part of Trump's speech. Shortly after, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla responded, dismissing Trump's remarks as "falsehoods" and "slanders," and defending Cuba's sovereignty while denying any threat posed to others.
Bolivia's Shift Away from Havana
Paz's comments are consistent with his track record since winning the presidential election in October 2025 with 54.61% of the vote, ending two decades of Bolivian alignment with the Cuba-Venezuela-Nicaragua axis.
Even before taking office, Paz made his stance clear by not inviting leaders from Cuba, Venezuela, or Nicaragua to his inauguration, stating, "none of these three are democratic."
Instead, Cuban activist Rosa María Payá attended the ceremony, congratulating the new leader on what she called a victory for democracy.
Following his electoral victory, Bolivia withdrew from ALBA, reopened the U.S. embassy in La Paz—shut since 2008 under Evo Morales—and invited the DEA to aid in the fight against drug trafficking.
In a CNN interview shortly after his election, Paz encapsulated his governance philosophy with a statement that underscored his departure from the Cuban model: "I need the people to eat, move, produce, and engage in commerce. I will introduce solutions, not ideology."
Bolivia's Address at the United Nations
Paz's speech to the United Nations General Assembly was scheduled for Thursday, September 24, focusing on democracy, security, and a new development vision for Bolivia, according to Bolivian media reports.
His remarks to Martí Noticias foreshadow the tone he intends to bring to the international stage, where the situation in Cuba and the defense of democratic values in Latin America are among his priorities.
Understanding Bolivia's Stance on Cuba
What did Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz say about Cuba?
President Rodrigo Paz stated that the Cuban people are experiencing hunger and suffering, and he advocated for the Cuban state to transform to better serve its people.
How did the Cuban delegation respond to Trump's UN speech?
The Cuban delegation walked out of the assembly during Trump's speech, and later, Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla dismissed Trump's comments as falsehoods and defended Cuba's sovereignty.