The Cuban leader, Miguel Díaz-Canel, once again pointed to the United States as a threat to Cuba's sovereignty, insisting that American policy aims for the annexation of the island.
During a meeting this Monday with young people in the Sierra Maestra, commemorating the beginning of the Necessary War organized by José Martí in 1895, Díaz-Canel drew a parallel between the independence struggle against Spain and the current political situation of the nation.
In his speech, the leader stated that the Cuban Revolution is facing a "war of continuity" against those who attempt to divide the people and supposedly promote the annexation of Cuba to the United States.
“Today all of you are engaging in an exercise of unity, a unity centered around a fundamental motivation, which is history and how to live the present history from the preceding history in order to also ensure the continuity of that history into the future,” said the leader of “continuity” in front of the cameras of the National Television News (NTV).
These statements are part of the official discourse of the regime, which has historically used the narrative of an external threat to justify political and economic control over society.
“Is there not today a group of people who want to divide us and who aspire to annexation? What does the policy of the United States to destroy the Cuban revolution aim for? Precisely: annexation. Therefore, this is a current topic. Today's situation is also a battle; it is a necessary war, a war of continuity. And there lies another symbolism, and there lies another significance,” concluded Díaz-Canel.
The event, organized by the Union of Young Communists, brought together 130 young people in Santiago de Cuba, who expressed their support for the Revolution and denounced the U.S. embargo. Some participants mentioned economic difficulties that they attributed to the blockade, while others raised concerns about internal issues within the country.
The Cuban government has repeatedly resorted to historical manipulation to associate political opposition and pro-democracy activism with the alleged intention of annexing the island to the United States, an idea that gained prominence in the 19th century, but is now marginal and used as a propaganda tool.
Díaz-Canel concluded his speech by calling for unity and commitment to the Revolution, in an attempt to reaffirm the loyalty of the youth to the Cuban system amidst a context of increasing social and economic crisis.
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