For Trump and his henchmen, Cuba represents much more than a business field for monopolies to profit from an eventual capitalist restoration. It is a symbol of anti-imperialist dignity for having rejected the attempted invasion by the United States and expropriated corporations and landowners. To subdue its people and regain control of the island, its purpose is to deliver a sobering blow to the peoples of Latin America as part of its global offensive on that region of the world to appropriate its common goods and assert its imperial might. From Milei to Bukele, Trump has the support of the far-right governments of the region. The intensification of the blockade, now including tariffs and sanctions on those who sell oil to Cuba directly or indirectly, is a new attempt to defeat the brotherly people of Cuba out of desperation. Oil is a fundamental input for the operation of electricity, transport, hospitals, universities, schools, drinking water and all the most basic elements of everyday life. This is a cruel and inhuman siege and therefore, we have the anti-imperialist obligation to support the threatened people.

From words to actions

This neo-colonial arrogance is not an isolated case: in addition to the support of the Latin American far-right, there is also the role of the regime headed by Díaz Canel. The policies they are implementing strengthen the presence of private capital on the island, and ensure privileges for the bureaucratic caste that governs, in contrast to the situation of misery and lack of basic services suffered by the majority of the population, to which must be added the brutal repression of those who question that course in the island itself. All of this facilitates Trump’s offensive. The same applies to the so-called progressive governments of the region that yield to Trump’s pressure. Thus, neither the Mexican government of Sheinbaum nor the Brazilian government of Lula, guarantee crude oil supply to the island through Pemex and Petrobras, which could be easily done. For their part, Russia or China did not take even the most basic measures of support to the attacked country beyond statements in the diplomatic field. They must abandon this passivity and move on to material support actions that are indispensable to counter the effects of the criminal blockade. There is no doubt that, faced with this scenario, the urgent political key is to promote the broadest international anti-imperialist mobilization against the threats of Trump and his henchmen in every country in the world.

No pact with Trump: real democracy on the island to resist him

Trump insisted several times on stating that there were ongoing negotiations with the government of Díaz Canel. Moreover, he appointed to Marco Rubio, his #1 reactionary official, as his current interlocutor with representatives of the Communist Party of Cuba. We do not credit anything that imperialism states, but there is the humiliating precedent of Chavismo in Venezuela that made a pact with Trump in a brazen and cowardly way. The Cuban government must agree to absolutely nothing behind the backs of the Cuban people. At the same time, in order to guarantee a strong and organized response from a people with an anti-imperialist and revolutionary tradition, all political prisoners on the island must be immediately released, the broadest guarantee of democratic rights, connectivity, assembly and organization for every sector and activists in the country in the field of the sovereign defense of Cuba against any interference must be guaranteed. Likewise, to end all forms of repression, control and espionage, especially against the youth who repudiate the US empire, but who have critical independence over the orientation of the political process in the country. No one can, under any circumstances, pretend to confront imperialism by being the one’s own people executioner. The prospect of an anti-bureaucratic political revolution is part of Cuba’s defense against imperialism and the revolutionary achievements that remain, though significantly eroded by the criminal blockade and the bureaucratic and restorationist policies of the Díaz-Canel government.

Trump strangles Cuba, we embrace it

Finally, there is a humanitarian emergency that demands all our solidarity. The situation on the island is one of real imperialist suffocation: blackouts, shortages of essential supplies and interruptions in medical care. In Cuba, more than 80% of water pumping equipment depends on electricity, and power outages are undermining access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene. The shortage of fuel hits the rationing system and the regulated basic family basket, and has affected social protection networks (school meals, maternity homes and homes for the elderly), hitting especially the most vulnerable sectors. We cannot be indifferent.

From the International Socialist League we propose to launch a Solidarity Campaign with the People of Cuba to gather resources and send them as economic support from anywhere in the world. Let’s organize solidarity collections in factories and companies, hospitals, universities and colleges. Let’s carry out different initiatives such as Solidarity Days to raise awareness about the situation and raise funds to reach the people who have been resisting in an exemplary way for so many decades. And also channel the individual commitment of people who want to collaborate in a personal way. Every collaboration makes a difference.

Faced with this imperialist strangulation politics, all the way from Miami, the Cuban right and its communicating vessels in the capitalist private sector of the island aim to undermine the morale of the people, from the ISL we want to be the voice of the anti-bureaucratic and independent left of the regime that repudiates the blockade and denounces Trump, but also the one that is part of the first line of internationalist solidarity to embrace this threatened people.

There is no room to be indifferent.

The People of Cuba Needs Us

All funds raised will be given to a group of young people who carry out social work in the most impoverished neighborhoods.

To contribute to the campaign, send us an email at info@lis-isl.org