Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel stated in an interview with Pablo Iglesias that he is willing to give his life for the Revolution, while detailing the effects of the US blockade and efforts toward energy sovereignty.
Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic, recently gave an interview to Spanish political scientist Pablo Iglesias Turrión on the digital platform Canal Red, broadcast on the program Mesa Redonda. From the Palace of the Revolution in Havana, Díaz-Canel addressed Cuba's current situation, marked by the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the United States.
Díaz-Canel explained that the blockade's intensification since 2019, including the application of Title III of the Helms-Burton Act and Cuba's inclusion on the list of countries allegedly supporting terrorism, has led to financial and energy persecution. "We haven’t had a single drop of fuel enter the country for three months," he noted, causing blackouts and shortages of food, medicine, and transportation.
Facing these challenges, the president highlighted "creative resistance": development of Cuban COVID-19 vaccines (three out of five candidates), ventilators, and community adaptations like shared kitchens and electric tricycles. In energy, Cuba installed 1,000 MW of photovoltaic parks last year, raising renewable generation from 3% to 10%.
On dialogue with the US, he confirmed talks with State Department officials, facilitated by international mediators and guided by Army General Raúl Castro. "We are willing to build a civilized relationship between neighbors," he said, but without conditions affecting Cuban sovereignty.
Finally, Díaz-Canel emphasized defensive readiness: "We would give our lives for the Revolution," referencing a viral comment by troubadour Silvio Rodríguez.
