The Deputy Director General of the United States Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba (MINREX), Johana Tablada de la Torre, stated that the funds from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) allocated for what she described as "subversion" on the island will continue as long as Secretary of State Marco Rubio remains in his position.
Tablada stated that it is "highly unlikely" that the funds for "interference" and "regime change" which have been used to finance projects in Cuba will disappear, and their recent freeze keeps independent media and Cuban civil society activists in suspense.
According to the official, the validity of the Helms-Burton Act stipulates that each year, the U.S. government must allocate at least 20 million dollars to programs that, in her words, undermine "the constitutional order in Cuba."
Johana Tablada's statements: "There will be money for the counter-revolution."
Tablada emphasized that USAID has historically funded programs to "document lies" about the situation in Cuba and that, under Marco Rubio's administration of USAID funds, this will continue.
As long as Marco Rubio is in charge of USAID funds, there will be money for the counter-revolution, there will be money to document the lies that the United States tries to use to justify the unjustifiable," the official stated to the pro-government portal Cubadebate.
He also stated that these funds are used to finance campaigns against Cuban medical cooperation, as "they know that not only does Cuba save lives around the world from this, but legitimate resources also flow into Cuba’s public health system." For Tablada, these actions aim to harm "one of the few sources of income that remain" for the Cuban economy.
The paradox of the funds: USAID vs. official cooperation
The Cuban government's speech continually denounces the funds that USAID allocates to democratization projects on the island, but remains silent about international cooperation programs that finance official initiatives with similar funds.
Cuba has received millions in cooperation from allied governments such as Russia, China, and Venezuela, funds that have been used to maintain the regime's infrastructure. Additionally, cooperation programs from organizations like the UN or the WHO have financed projects promoted by the Cuban state, and USAID itself has allocated aid to the government during emergency situations.
Paradoxically, while Havana complains about funding for opposition groups, it benefits from programs that provide international resources without scrutiny. The narrative of "external attack" overlooks the fact that many of the state projects on the island depend on resources from international organizations or allied countries.
Profile of Johana Tablada de la Torre: The passionate spokesperson of the regime
Tablada de la Torre has been one of the most visible and passionate figures in defending the Cuban regime's foreign policy. His statements consistently align with the official narrative that Cuba is a "small blocked country" facing constant attempts at destabilization by the United States.
Tablada has repeatedly defended that the "Cuban Revolution" is a victim of a "permanent campaign of aggression", positioning herself as one of the most aggressive spokespersons against the opposition both inside and outside the island. In her speeches, she often emphasizes concepts such as "sovereignty" and "national dignity" to justify the repression against activists and independent journalists.
Her name has been linked to communication strategies aimed at discrediting opponents and defaming independent media. In her recent statements to Cubadebate, the high-ranking official targeted the Cuban activist and researcher, María Werlau, who has authored studies on repression in Cuba and reports on forced labor in medical missions.
In 2023, the inclusion of Tablada de la Torre in a list of regime repressors in Cuba sparked controversy, as she was identified as one of the figures responsible for justifying censorship and political persecution on the island.
The financing of opposition groups by USAID has been a recurring issue in the relations between Cuba and the United States. Washington has defended these programs, arguing that they aim to promote democracy and human rights on the island.
Recently, the State Department took full control of the agency, which could represent changes in its policy towards Cuba. Additionally, figures such as Donald Trump and Elon Musk have questioned the work of USAID, even going so far as to propose its closure.
The continuity of U.S. funding for critical initiatives with the Cuban government remains a point of tension in bilateral relations, despite unusual and recent coincidences in viewpoints.
While in the U.S. there are voices both for and against these programs, in Cuba the official discourse maintains that it is a "direct interference" with destabilizing intentions.
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