标签： Cuba

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel joined Commander Jose Ramón Machado Ventura and senior Communist Party officials in leading a solemn national tribute honoring internationalist fighters killed during recent hostilities involving the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. The ceremony preceded the traditional March of the Fighting People, demonstrating Cuba’s unwavering commitment to its revolutionary principles.

The commemorative events began with the arrival of the combatants’ remains, which were met with widespread public displays of support across the nation. Revolutionary leader Raul Castro and President Diaz-Canel performed the first posthumous honors, leading the final honor guard in a gesture of profound respect for the fallen.

A solemn procession transported the ceremonial urns from Havana’s airport terminal to the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (MINFAR) headquarters along Rancho Boyeros Avenue. Thousands of citizens lined the route despite challenging weather conditions, offering heartfelt tributes to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in international service.

The public tribute continued at MINFAR headquarters where a constant flow of mourners gathered to pay their respects to the mortal remains. The sustained attendance demonstrated the deep resonance of the combatants’ sacrifice within Cuban society, with citizens braving inclement weather to honor their legacy.

Official ceremonies are scheduled for Friday morning across all provincial capitals, followed by afternoon interments in the Pantheon of the Fallen in Defense in the combatants’ respective localities. Concurrent recognition ceremonies will take place in every municipality, creating a nationwide expression of gratitude for the internationalists’ service and sacrifice.

During the 48th Graduation Ceremony of Cadets at Nicaragua’s ‘Leonel Rugama’ Police Science University, President Daniel Ortega delivered a forceful condemnation of United States foreign policy toward two Caribbean nations. The Nicaraguan leader emphasized the overwhelming international consensus at the United Nations against the six-decade-long economic blockade imposed by Washington on Cuba, noting that nearly all member states consistently vote for its removal with only minimal opposition.

Ortega specifically pointed to voting patterns, stating, ‘In every vote, almost all countries voted to lift the US blockade. Who voted against it? The delegate from the United States, the delegate from Israel, two or three countries at most.’ This observation highlighted the diplomatic isolation of the US position on the Cuba embargo within the global community.

In a significant expansion of his critique, the Nicaraguan president expressed firm support for acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez while making explosive allegations regarding the disappearance of President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores. Ortega characterized their absence as a kidnapping operation conducted by US military personnel on January 3, demanding their immediate return to Venezuela.

The Central American leader further accused the United States of economic motives behind its Venezuela policy, asserting that Washington’s primary interest lies in the nation’s substantial petroleum resources. Ortega quoted specific figures, alleging the US intends to appropriate ‘thousands of barrels of oil that nation intends to take from the Venezuelan people,’ while portraying Maduro as a leader genuinely committed to peace.

Concluding his address, Ortega extended gratitude to nations worldwide and even within the United States that have mobilized against what he characterized as American aggressions, acknowledging international support for peaceful resolutions to these regional tensions.

In a solemn ceremony at the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) headquarters, Cuban leadership paid homage to 32 military personnel who perished during a recent US military operation. The incident occurred on January 3rd when American forces conducted an operation targeting Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores for arrest.

Raúl Castro, alongside President Miguel Díaz-Canel, led the memorial service with participation from Interior Minister Lázaro Álvarez Casas and FAR Minister Álvaro López Miera. The ceremony marked the return of the soldiers’ remains to Havana, where citizens gathered to pay their respects at the FAR compound.

The Cuban government announced posthumous military promotions for all 32 casualties, recognizing their exceptional heroism and sacrifice. The official statement described these honors as “a fitting and well-deserved tribute to their heroism.”

Simultaneous public demonstrations unfolded across the nation, with Havana residents convening at the Anti-Imperialist Tribune facing the US diplomatic mission. This gathering culminated in a “March of the Combatant People” expressing national solidarity and homage. Parallel ceremonies occurred in all provincial capitals, with the fallen soldiers scheduled for burial in pantheons dedicated to those who perished in defense of the nation.

In a solemn ceremony marked by revolutionary fervor, Cuba welcomed home the remains of 32 military personnel who perished during duty in Venezuela. Army Corps General Lázaro Alberto Álvarez Casas, Political Bureau member and Minister of the Interior, delivered an emotionally charged address honoring the fallen combatants while delivering a stark message against imperialism.

The ceremony, attended by grieving family members and government officials, transformed mourning into a powerful display of nationalist pride. General Álvarez Casas framed the soldiers’ deaths not as tragedy but as heroic sacrifice, emphasizing that they “fell fighting and ascended forever into history” while defending Cuba’s internationalist principles.

Drawing direct parallels to historical struggles, the Minister connected the fallen soldiers to Cuba’s revolutionary legacy—from the mambises independence fighters to the barbudos of the Sierra Maestra and internationalist combatants across Latin America. He explicitly characterized the January 3 incident in Venezuela as “aggression and treacherous attacks,” though specific operational details remained undisclosed.

The address contained significant political messaging, asserting that Venezuela represents “a natural extension of the homeland” and invoking the symbolic unity of revolutionary figures Simón Bolívar, José Martí, Hugo Chávez, and Fidel Castro. General Álvarez Casas made clear that Cuba maintains unwavering commitment to its overseas missions despite losses, stating emphatically: “Cuba does not abandon its children. Cuba does not renounce its principles.

In direct confrontation with geopolitical adversaries, the Minister contrasted enemy claims of “high-precision operations and elite troops” with Cuba’s narrative of human sacrifice and familial loss. The speech culminated with a reaffirmation of revolutionary values over material wealth, declaring that imperialism “will never be able to buy the dignity of the Cuban people.”

The ceremony established the fallen soldiers as permanent national symbols, with General Álvarez Casas promising they would “continue to march at the forefront of every battle” and inspire future generations of revolutionaries.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez has declared a nationwide day of remembrance and patriotic demonstration through his official social media account. The First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party articulated a threefold commitment: “We are going to sing our anthem to the heroes. We are going to thank them for their courage. We are going to march so that those who do not yet understand us can get to know us better.”

The commemorative activities include a formal ceremony at Havana’s Anti-Imperialist Tribune, followed by a March of the Fighting People designed to demonstrate national unity and reaffirm commitment to the Cuban homeland. Simultaneously, across all municipalities nationwide, ceremonies will be conducted to pay posthumous tribute to martyrs whose remains will be interred in local pantheons dedicated to those who fell in defense of their communities.

This coordinated national event represents both a memorialization of historical sacrifices and a contemporary political demonstration aimed at reinforcing national identity and revolutionary values. The activities appear designed to strengthen domestic solidarity while communicating Cuba’s perspective to international observers.

HAVANA, January 15, 2026 – Cuba conducted a solemn state ceremony at José Martí International Airport to honor 32 combatants who perished during recent military engagements in Venezuela. The ceremony marked the repatriation of remains and was attended by the nation’s highest leadership, including Army General Raúl Castro Ruz and President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez.

The emotional ceremony witnessed the arrival of flag-draped coffins containing the remains of the fallen soldiers, each covered with Cuba’s single-star flag. Military honors included a three-volley rifle salute and the performance of the national anthem as the nation mourned its lost defenders.

In his address, Minister of the Interior Lázaro Alberto Álvarez Casas emphasized the symbolic significance of the soldiers’ sacrifice, stating, ‘We do not welcome them with resignation, but with deep pride and eternal commitment. Death does not defeat those who fall defending a just cause.’ The minister explicitly connected the casualties to what Cuban authorities characterized as ‘US aggression against Venezuela,’ framing the combatants’ deaths as both a defense of Venezuela and Cuba’s national sovereignty.

The ceremony highlighted the strong bilateral relations between Cuba and Venezuela, with Venezuelan Ambassador Orlando Maneiro Gaspar in attendance. Minister Álvarez Casas invoked the historical legacy of Simón Bolívar, José Martí, Hugo Chávez, and Fidel Castro, portraying the current conflict as part of a broader anti-imperialist struggle.

Throughout the day, thousands of Cuban citizens gathered despite inclement weather to pay respects to the fallen soldiers. The ceremony concluded with Raúl Castro and President Díaz-Canel leading an honor guard at the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces headquarters, where they paid individual tribute to each of the 32 coffins.

The government’s characterization of events emphasized national unity and resilience in the face of external threats, with official statements repeatedly condemning US foreign policy while celebrating the soldiers’ sacrifice as heroic and ideologically consistent with Cuba’s revolutionary principles.

In a comprehensive social media analysis, former Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa has delivered a scathing critique of United States foreign policy toward Venezuela, characterizing recent actions as both economically unsustainable and strategically flawed. The former head of state asserted that the Trump administration had reached a critical realization about the ineffectiveness of its Venezuelan blockade strategy, recognizing that the approach was proving prohibitively expensive while failing to achieve its intended objectives.

Correa detailed the multifaceted costs burdening American interests, highlighting how maintaining naval assets along Venezuela’s coastline generated substantial operational expenditures. More significantly, he emphasized that major US petroleum corporations—key financial supporters of the administration—were simultaneously missing out on highly profitable business opportunities within the South American nation’s energy sector.

The former Ecuadorian leader suggested that facing this strategic impasse, the White House required a face-saving measure and consequently resorted to what he termed the ‘kidnapping’ of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro as a supposed ‘final solution.’ Correa referenced the January 3rd military incursion into Venezuelan territory, noting that contrary to US expectations, this intervention produced neither regime change nor any substantial political transformation within the Bolivarian Republic.

According to Correa’s analysis, Washington’s genuine objective revolves around securing favorable terms for American oil conglomerates, despite Venezuela’s historical openness to foreign investment. He contended that the very sanctions imposed by the United States have paradoxically prevented such economic engagement from occurring.

The former president further speculated about additional motivations behind US actions, suggesting Washington aims to manipulate global oil prices ahead of critical midterm elections while simultaneously demonstrating unilateral power to the international community. This combination of economic and geopolitical objectives, Correa concluded, reflects an assertion that the United States can operate without meaningful constraints in pursuing its interests.

In a significant governmental session presided over by President Miguel Diaz-Canel, Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz detailed substantial enhancements to the nation’s governance framework. The high-level meeting marked a pivotal development in Cuba’s ongoing administrative restructuring efforts, incorporating extensive feedback from multiple national institutions and public consultations.

The revised Government Program represents a synthesis of diverse inputs, including outcomes from nationwide public consultations, resolutions from the 11th Plenum of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, and substantive conclusions derived from the sixth ordinary session of the National Assembly of People’s Power. Further contributions emerged from specialized deliberations within the Commission on Economic Affairs, creating a comprehensive policy roadmap.

First-quarter implementation priorities include the formal publication of the updated program document, consolidation of previously approved measures, and systematic identification of territorial potential to reinforce the national Economic Plan. A key focus remains on enhancing budget revenues through optimized regional resource allocation.

Prime Minister Marrero emphasized the critical role of extraordinary sessions of Provincial Councils of People’s Power, describing them as mechanisms for evaluating implementation efficiency at local levels. These sessions enable assessment of additional capacity for achieving program objectives through decentralized governance structures.

Concurrently, the Council of State conducted rigorous evaluation of compliance with Law No. 158 concerning the Comptroller General of the Republic. This audit incorporated recommendations from the accountability report presented to the National Assembly in December 2022, reflecting ongoing efforts to strengthen institutional transparency.

The Council recommended intensified oversight in several strategic sectors including deficit reduction, external revenue generation, agricultural production enhancement, and reinforcement of state-owned socialist enterprises. These measures aim to address economic challenges while maintaining Cuba’s socialist development model.