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As the Caribbean nation faces one of the worst economic crises in its history, marked by shortages of food and medicine and an electrical system on the verge of collapse, social organizations and residents of El Salvador will join the so-called “Global Marathon of Love for Cuba,” a campaign aimed at expressing support for the regime of the island and holding the United States responsible for the crisis the country is experiencing.
According to Prensa Latina, various solidarity movements and sectors aligned with the Cuban government, along with the organizers, expressed their opposition to Washington's policies, particularly the embargo and Cuba's inclusion on the list of state sponsors of terrorism.
"We condemn the genocidal blockade, a real measure that directly suffocates the Cuban people, both inside and outside of Cuba, affecting all areas of society on the Island," the document states.
The text also notes that Cuba's foreign policy is based on humanitarian assistance and technological, technical, and scientific cooperation, denying any links to actions contrary to the United Nations Charter.
However, it fails to mention the lack of political freedoms, the repression of dissent, and the widespread shortages that have driven thousands of Cubans to protest in the streets or flee the country in search of better living conditions, which are some of the main issues affecting the population today.
The organizers also condemned the measures implemented by the current U.S. Secretary of State, Marcos Rubio, against Cuban medical cooperation, arguing that they affect both the island and the countries that receive that assistance.
They conveniently failed to mention that the so-called Cuban medical cooperation is actually a mechanism of the regime to export healthcare professionals under conditions of exploitation comparable to modern slavery. Furthermore, if any of them decides to defect, they face the possibility of being imprisoned if they return to the island.
According to the note published by Prensa Latina, the organizers of the marathon in El Salvador also criticized the policy of flight restrictions between the two countries and the limitations on remittances sent from abroad.
The event, which will take place at the Francisco Morazán Square in San Salvador, has been convened by the Cuba Chapter, solidarity movements in various departments of the country, Operation Miracle, and groups of veterans and war injured.
In December of last year, the official newspaper Granma highlighted the preparations for this initiative, promoted by the Latin American and Caribbean Continental Network of Solidarity with Cuba and Just Causes.
According to its organizers, the aim is to coordinate efforts to support the regime throughout 2025, using the 65th anniversary of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP) as a pretext to extend the campaign to other continents.
From the headquarters of ICAP, its president Fernando González Llort, one of the Cuban spies released in 2014 and declared Hero of the Republic, acknowledged that the initiative will have a strong political component, noting that it will serve to confront Donald Trump's return to the White House and the "media campaigns" against Cuba.
He also insisted that the aim of the marathon is to reinforce the official narrative about the U.S. embargo and to mobilize international support at a critical moment for the regime.
González Llort urged that the campaign serve to strengthen propaganda tags like #CubaNoEstáSola and #TumbaElBloqueo, in addition to including the event in the IX Continental Meeting of Solidarity with Cuba, scheduled to take place in Mexico in December 2025.
Although this propaganda maneuver was not directly organized by the Cuban regime, it did have its tacit complicity.
Meanwhile, the situation within the island continues to deteriorate, characterized by historic levels of migration, rising social discontent, and an unprecedented economic crisis that is hitting the population the hardest.
However, the island's government did organize an "anti-imperialist bike ride" with young people to show support for the Revolution, amidst criticism over the economic crisis.
The event aimed to demonstrate the "ideological strength" of the youth and to commemorate the resumption of the "Necessary War," which took place on February 24, 1895, in a context marked by the questioning of the government’s management of the economic and energy crisis in the country.
Last February, thousands of people were mobilized to attend the Plaza de la Revolución Mariana Grajales Coello in Guantánamo to express their rejection of the United States' policies towards Cuba.
The event, orchestrated by the Cuban regime in the format of an Anti-Imperialist Forum, served to reaffirm the "revolutionary" commitment to "the defense of national sovereignty."
Frequently asked questions about the "World Marathon of Love for Cuba" and the current situation on the island
What is the "World Marathon of Love for Cuba"?
The "World Marathon of Love for Cuba" is a campaign organized by solidarity movements and groups aligned with the Cuban regime, aimed at expressing support for the island's government and blaming the United States for the economic crisis the country is facing. The initiative has a strong political component and is presented as a strategy to divert attention from the serious internal situation in Cuba.
How does the United States embargo affect the situation in Cuba?
The Cuban government blames the United States embargo for the economic crisis, including shortages of food, medicine, and issues with the electrical system. However, this official narrative fails to mention government inefficiency and political repression as significant factors contributing to the challenges faced by the Cuban population.
What role do Cuban medical missions play in the international politics of the regime?
Cuban medical missions are used as a mechanism for exporting labor under exploitative conditions, comparable to modern slavery. While Cuba presents these missions as a form of humanitarian cooperation, the regime retains a significant portion of the generated income and uses these missions as a political and economic tool on the international stage.
What is the position of the United States regarding sanctions on Cuba?
The United States has maintained and, in some cases, intensified sanctions against the Cuban regime in response to the lack of democratic reforms and the ongoing support of the Cuban government for repressive and exploitative practices, such as medical missions. The sanctions aim to pressure the regime into making significant changes in its domestic policy and improving the living conditions of its population.
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