标签： Cuba

PARIS – In a striking display of international solidarity, dozens of demonstrators gathered at the Esplanade of Human Rights at Trocadero, with the Eiffel Tower providing a symbolic backdrop, to vehemently protest recent US actions against Venezuela. The multinational rally, organized by a coalition of civil society organizations, expressed profound outrage over what participants labeled as unlawful aggression by the Trump administration.

The demonstration featured a diverse representation from across the globe, including associations representing Argentinians, Bolivians, Colombians, Cubans, Chileans, Ecuadorians, French, Hondurans, Malians, Mexicans, Nigerians, and Peruvians. Participants collectively denounced Washington’s recent measures as flagrant violations of established international legal frameworks.

Amid a sea of banners, national flags, and impassioned slogans, protesters demanded the immediate release of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, whom they affirmed as the constitutionally legitimate leader of the South American nation. The gathering simultaneously called for respect of Venezuela’s national sovereignty and the fundamental right to self-determination, positioning the defense of these principles as crucial for maintaining peace throughout Latin America, the Caribbean, and the global community.

Speakers and organizers articulated that the true motivation behind the aggression targets Venezuela’s substantial natural resources—including petroleum, natural gas, gold reserves, and water—rather than purported concerns about drug trafficking or terrorism. The demonstration served as a platform to urge political entities worldwide to transcend partisan positions and unite in condemning what they characterized as a dangerous breach of the United Nations Charter.

In a related show of support, a separate solidarity event convened at Paris’s historic Place de la Bastille, drawing participation from French political parties, labor unions, and additional civic associations. This gathering echoed the condemnation of US foreign policy while issuing warnings that other sovereign nations might subsequently become targets of the current administration’s expansionist ambitions.

Across multiple Cuban cities, significant public demonstrations have emerged expressing vehement opposition to U.S. foreign policy while demonstrating unwavering solidarity with Venezuela’s government. In Holguín, a substantial gathering convened to demand regional peace and condemn what participants characterized as imperialist intervention in Caribbean affairs.

According to reports from Granma newspaper, attendees assembled along Avenida de los Libertadores near the monument to Simón Bolívar, launching an international campaign against American leadership. Participants denounced U.S. policies as ‘wars of plunder,’ labeled economic sanctions as ‘genocidal blockades,’ and condemned recent actions as criminal violations of international law.

The declaration specifically referenced the January 3rd incident involving Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores, demanding their unimpeded return to Venezuela after what was described as their effective kidnapping by U.S. authorities.

During emotionally charged proceedings, tribute was paid to thirty-two combatants who reportedly fell defending Venezuelan sovereignty, including seven individuals from Holguín province according to the Cuban News Agency.

Parallel demonstrations occurred in Camagüey, where military personnel, civilian workers, and soldiers from the local firing range expressed unconditional support for Venezuela’s Bolivarian Republic. The regional newspaper Adelante documented calls for a Latin America free from external interference.

Adding personal dimension to the political support, employees of Granma Provincial Electricity Company who previously served on internationalist missions in Venezuela voiced their endorsement of the nation’s government and people. They joined in condemning what they characterized as recent military aggression against the Bolivarian nation.

Approximately 50 U.S. Marines have commenced joint training operations with Panamanian forces, initiating a controversial military program that runs from today through February 26th. The exercises will take place at two strategic locations: the Jungle Warfare School in Colón province and Captain Noel Rodríguez Naval Base near the capital city.

This military collaboration has sparked significant opposition from civil society organizations, particularly the National Front for the Defense of Economic and Social Rights (Frenadeso). The group contends that these maneuvers stem from a memorandum of understanding secretly signed between Panama and Washington in April 2025, which they characterize as detrimental to national sovereignty.

In an official statement obtained by Prensa Latina and endorsed by Frenadeso coordinator Jorge Guzmán, the organization vehemently rejected the notion that these activities represent international cooperation. Instead, they framed the training as outright foreign interference and an act of aggression against Panama’s autonomous governance.

The memorandum, according to Frenadeso’s analysis, effectively normalizes foreign military presence within Panamanian territory and transforms the nation into a strategic platform for geopolitical operations targeting neighboring countries, particularly Venezuela. These actions are allegedly justified under the pretext of addressing security concerns, migration flows, and narcotics trafficking.

Frenadeso’s declaration emphatically states: ‘Panama is a sovereign and neutral country, not a ramp for imperial aggression,’ while demanding the immediate termination of all joint military exercises and calling for authentic defense of national independence.

This development marks an escalation of U.S. military engagement in Panama that began in December 2025, initially justified through anti-drug trafficking initiatives. The increased presence followed concerning statements from former U.S. President Donald Trump regarding potential military intervention to secure the Panama Canal, citing unsubstantiated claims of Chinese influence—allegations consistently denied by officials from both nations.

Venezuela’s Ministry of Popular Power for Foreign Affairs has issued a sharp rebuttal to recent statements from the U.S. State Department, denouncing them as constructed falsehoods designed to project an inaccurate image of instability within the South American nation. The comprehensive communiqué presents a counter-narrative of a nation operating in a state of complete normalcy and peace.

The ministry’s statement categorically asserts that all population centers, transportation networks, communication routes, and security checkpoints are functioning without disruption. Emphasizing sovereign control, the communication clarifies that all weaponry remains exclusively under the command of the Bolivarian Government, which it identifies as the sole entity holding the legitimate monopoly on the use of force.

Furthermore, the Venezuelan government has used this opportunity to reiterate its unwavering dedication to safeguarding national peace, ensuring institutional stability, and fostering peaceful coexistence among its citizens. This firm response highlights the ongoing diplomatic friction between Caracas and Washington, underscoring a significant divergence in perceived realities regarding Venezuela’s internal security situation.

In an unprecedented display of international solidarity, hundreds of thousands of Italian citizens flooded the streets across thirty major cities in coordinated demonstrations against United States foreign policy toward Latin American nations. The widespread protests, organized through a coalition of political parties, labor unions, student associations, and social advocacy groups, represented one of Europe’s most significant expressions of dissent against American interventionism.

The mobilization spanned the entire Italian peninsula, with substantial gatherings documented in Rome, Milan, Turin, Venice, Bologna, Genoa, Florence, Naples, Palermo, and numerous other urban centers. Participants voiced strong opposition to what they characterized as US imperialist ambitions, state-sponsored terrorism, and the continued application of the nineteenth-century Monroe Doctrine, which they view as an anachronistic tool of hemispheric domination.

Rome witnessed one of the largest concentrations of protesters, where columns of demonstrators advanced along central thoroughfares from Esquiline Square toward the US Embassy. The atmosphere remained charged with political fervor as speakers addressed the crowds, warning of escalating tensions and potential military confrontations. ‘We gather today knowing the threat of further aggression remains imminent,’ declared one organizer, capturing the movement’s apprehensive mood.

The protests specifically highlighted solidarity with Venezuela’s Bolivarian government and Cuba’s socialist administration, both facing increased US economic and diplomatic pressure. Demonstrators carried banners and chanted slogans advocating for alternative global governance models free from American hegemony, with many participants emphasizing their commitment to continued mobilization for ‘a different world order based on mutual respect and sovereignty.’

Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero has utilized social media platform X to outline the government’s strategic approach to navigating the nation’s current difficulties. Emphasizing the necessity of public involvement and supervisory mechanisms, Marrero articulated a vision grounded in collective effort to identify and implement solutions.

The Prime Minister conveyed a sense of determined optimism, invoking the teachings of revolutionary leaders Fidel and Raul Castro. “We will emerge from this adverse context by fighting, as #Fidel and #Raul taught us,” he stated, framing the current struggle within Cuba’s historical revolutionary narrative.

His communications also included celebratory remarks for the 15th anniversaries of Cuba’s youngest provinces, Artemisa and Mayabeque. This recognition of provincial milestones coincides with a broader governmental review process.

Marrero specifically referenced recent Extraordinary Provincial Councils conducted in Pinar del Rio and Artemisa. These assemblies served to evaluate and acknowledge each region’s potential to enhance their contribution to national economic output and improve citizen welfare.

Parallel to these provincial councils, extraordinary plenary sessions of the Communist Party’s provincial committees are being conducted across the Cuban archipelago. These high-level meetings, personally led by President and First Secretary of the Central Committee Miguel Diaz-Canel, are designed to critically assess Cuba’s position within a new historical moment.

The comprehensive agenda for these party meetings includes formulating strategic work plans leading to 2026, addressing national defense requirements, and analyzing the pressing economic and social conditions facing the Caribbean nation. This coordinated effort reflects the government’s attempt to harmonize regional capabilities with national objectives during a period of significant complexity in both domestic and international affairs.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez has issued a forceful condemnation of United States foreign policy, accusing Washington of six decades of aggression and a persistent campaign to impose its will on sovereign nations. The diplomatic broadside was delivered via the social media platform X, framing the long-standing conflict as a battle between raw power and principled international law.

Rodríguez characterized the US position as one backed by ‘enormous military power’ and economic might, supplemented by what he described as a ‘vast experience of aggression and crimes.’ This portrayal positioned the United States as a hegemon relying on force rather than diplomacy. In direct contrast, the Minister asserted that Cuba’s strength derives from ‘reason, international law, and the patriotic spirit of its people,’ framing the island nation as the moral and legal underdog in the protracted dispute.

The core of the message was an unequivocal declaration of Cuban resilience and sovereignty. ‘We Cubans are not willing to sell our country or give in to threats and blackmail,’ Rodríguez stated, emphasizing the nation’s ‘inalienable prerogative’ to determine its own destiny independently. This statement was presented not as mere rhetoric but as a proven commitment forged through decades of resistance.

Rodríguez further contextualized his remarks within Cuba’s ongoing diplomatic efforts, noting that his government has consistently denounced US ‘hostile policies’ in multiple international forums. A key point of contention highlighted was the alleged reactivation of the Monroe Doctrine, a 19th-century US policy that Rodríguez accused the US of using to justify military interventions and hegemony throughout the Latin American region. The Minister’s concluding vow, ‘We will defend Cuba. Those who know us know that it is a firm, categorical and proven commitment,’ served as a definitive summary of the nation’s unyielding stance.