HAVANA (Dispatches) -- Latin American leaders, political figures, and social organizations have joined a chorus of support for the Cuban government and people in response to the latest interference and destabilizing attempts by the United States.
Protest rallies erupted against Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel’s government over the weekend. The unrest comes at a time when Cuba is going through its worst economic crisis in 30 years, with chronic shortages of electricity and food exacerbated by hefty U.S. sanctions.
Diaz-Canel on Monday blamed the chaotic situation on the United States for pursuing a “policy of economic suffocation to provoke social unrest in the country.”
The U.S. has maintained a harsh economic, financial, and commercial embargo against Cuba for more than 60 years. Numerous resolutions by the United Nations General Assembly have indicated that the blockade is against international law.
President Joe Biden called protests in Cuba “remarkable”, claiming “the Cuban people are demanding their freedom from an authoritarian regime”.
The comments marked a notable change in tone from Biden’s old boss, Barack Obama, who as president sought to ease decades of tensions between Washington and Havana while loosening U.S. imposed economic sanctions. It was an effort that was reversed by Republican President Donald Trump, who partially rolled back Obama’s rapprochement, limiting U.S. travel to the island, banning American financial transactions with dozens of enterprises, and more.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Monday expressed “all support” for Havana and the Cuban people.
“From here, from Venezuela, (we are) brothers in good times and bad, and Cuba will move forward,” he said.
Mexico’s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador also expressed solidarity with the Cuban people.
“I believe that a solution must be sought through dialog, without the use of force, without confrontation, without violence,” Obrador said. “It must be the Cubans who decide because Cuba is a free, independent, and sovereign country.”
President of Colombia’s Commons Party Rodrigo Londono expressed support for the sovereignty of the Cuban people and the humanistic principles of their political project.
“We urge unity in defense of the [Cuban] Revolution. Cuba is dignity,” he said.
El Salvador’s Farabundo Marti Front for National Liberation (FMLN) denounced the so-called “SOS Cuba” - A coordinated online campaign to spread anti-Cuban messages -- as one of manipulation.
Argentine political scientist Atilio Boron said that the U.S sought to “provoke a. social outbreak to overthrow the Revolutionary government” of Cuba.
“Another crime against humanity. Maximum alert,” he said, adding that Cuba was not alone.