On December 20, in Havana, Cuba, hundreds of thousands of Cuban people protested in front of the US Embassy demanding the end of the US’ crippling embargo and remove the country from its list of countries “supporting terrorism”. The protest was led by Cuban President Miquel Diaz-Canel.
Marchers chanted “down with the blockade” and “we will never surrender” as they waved Cuban flags.
Cuban officials have repeatedly deplored President Joe Biden’s failure to lift restrictions imposed by Trump during his first term, on top of already comprehensive sanctions.
“Biden in a disciplined and cruel manner complied with the policy that Trump approved during his mandate,” President Diaz-Canel said as he rallied protesters.
The embargo had crippling impact on food, clean water, medicine, and other economic needs of the Cuban population.
This month, the largest electricity deficit of the year caused blackouts across more than half of the island.
On October 30, 2024, the resolution, titled “Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba,” passed with 187 votes in favor, two against (Israel and the US), and one abstention (Moldova).
Though non-binding, the result drew attention the relative isolation of the US regarding the embargo, which was first imposed in 1960 after former leader Fidel Castro came to power following the revolution.
US imperialist tags anyone enimical to its interest as “terrorist”, but conviniently proclaim them as “heroes” when it suits its geopolitical aims. The group known as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, the new rulers of Syria, is a clear case of US hipocricy.
Until now US imperialism maintains a military base- the Guantanamo Naval Base- in Cuba. This was forcibly imposed by the US on Cuba, eventhough the former US puppet Dictator Batista was ousted by the revolution led by Fidel Castro.
Within the naval base is the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, where the US detain, torture, and interrogate freedom fighters – in gross violation of the International Humanitarian Law.
US imperialism is relentless in its efforts to regain control of Cuba. The Bay of Pigs invasion was an abortive invasion of Cuba in April 1961 by some 1,500 Cuban exiles opposed to Fidel Castro. The invasion was financed and directed by the U.S. government.
Together with Venezuela, Cuba organized the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas (ALBA) in 2004.At present, the regional political and social implications of ALBA have greater significance than the economic impact. It is building a barrier to U.S. domination and European capital penetration. ALBA serves as counterpole against the US controlled OAS (Organization of American States).