Cuban opposition leader José Daniel Ferrer recently used a striking medical analogy to convey why many Cubans favor direct military intervention over the indefinite continuation of economic sanctions against the regime. According to Ferrer, communism is akin to cancer, sanctions represent chemotherapy, and intervention would be the surgery to eradicate the disease at its core.
In an interview with Tania Costa, Ferrer elaborated on this perspective a day after attending the event "Cuba Libre: The Oppression Havana Hides," held by the U.S. mission to the UN and Archivo Cuba at the United Nations headquarters in New York. This event was marked by a chaotic display from regime representatives, involving unruly behavior and homophobic gestures.
"Sanctions are like chemotherapy," Ferrer explained. "Imagine a body with two choices: the communist cancer and chemotherapy for life, with all its adverse effects—hair loss, vomiting, headaches, nausea, dizziness, and so on. Some patients say: let the cancer kill me, stop giving me that," stated the founder of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU).
The Call for a Surgical Solution
Ferrer clarified that he does not oppose sanctions as a tool, but rather their endless application without a definitive resolution. "I want the cancer eradicated, but I don't want chemotherapy to last forever, accompanying the patient for life. If surgical intervention, after a period of chemotherapy, can remove it and it is known to eliminate all cancer cells without recurrence, then surgery is welcome."
Ferrer’s conclusion was firm: "That's why so many people in Cuba prefer intervention over sanctions."
UN Vote: A Crucial Test
These remarks come ahead of the annual United Nations General Assembly vote on the Cuban resolution that calls for the end of the U.S. embargo, scheduled for October 27-29. Ferrer and UNPACU are part of an opposition coalition that has gathered over 1,000 supporters. On October 14, they urged democratic countries to vote against or abstain from the resolution, arguing that the regime uses it to portray itself as a victim of foreign aggression and distract from its political repression and military control of the economy.
In the 2025 vote, the Cuban resolution received 165 votes in favor, seven against, and 12 abstentions. Notably, Argentina, Ukraine, and Hungary voted against it for the first time.
Regime's Antics at the UN
Ferrer’s statements also follow an incident at the UN where Cuban diplomats, led by ambassador Ernesto Soberón, staged a protest in the hallways, shouting "terrorists" and "get out of the UN" at panelists, including artist and former political prisoner Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara.
Ferrer harshly criticized this behavior: "It’s foolish to act that way at the United Nations. They do that in Havana, in Santiago de Cuba, in Mar Verde prison, in Boniato prison, in the Combinado del Este. That’s what we know they’ve always done."
The upcoming UN General Assembly vote at the end of October will be a significant test to see if the opposition's call can weaken the international support that the Cuban regime has garnered over more than three decades with this resolution.
Understanding the Cuban Opposition's Stance
What analogy did José Daniel Ferrer use to describe the situation in Cuba?
Ferrer used a medical analogy, comparing communism to cancer, sanctions to chemotherapy, and military intervention to surgery that removes the cancer.
Why does Ferrer oppose indefinite sanctions?
Ferrer opposes indefinite sanctions because he believes they should not be a permanent solution. He advocates for a definitive resolution to eradicate the regime, similar to surgical removal of cancer.
What event triggered Ferrer's recent comments?
Ferrer’s comments followed an incident at the UN where Cuban diplomats disrupted an event, shouting at panelists, which highlighted the regime’s aggressive behavior.