Amid one of the deepest crises in its recent history, the Cuban regime is once again reaching out to those who may still be willing to offer some support.
This time, the setting is the XVII Summit of the BRICS group (an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), which takes place on July 6 and 7 in Rio de Janeiro, where Miguel Díaz-Canel traveled in hopes of finding new opportunities that could help ease -even if just slightly- the economic suffocation the country is experiencing.
Accompanied by Chancellor Bruno Rodríguez, Emilio Lozada (an official of the Communist Party) and other members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Díaz-Canel landed in Brazil promoting a message of "hope" and "South-South cooperation."
"Just a few hours to convey Cuba's message about how much we can contribute and how much we can support each other within this hopeful mechanism of global integration, in defense of multilateralism," the leader expressed on X.
But at its core, his visit addresses an urgent need: to seek financing and political support in any corner of the world that still listens to Havana.
The official narrative, as usual, dresses the event with grandiose phrases about "multilateralism," "inclusive governance," and "global solidarity," but the reality is much more prosaic: the regime desperately needs funds to support a collapsed economy, crumbling infrastructure, and a paralyzed production system.
Castrism is seeking oxygen in the BRICS
The event is set to discuss the governance of artificial intelligence, global health cooperation to strengthen access to medicines and vaccines, trade and investment, climate change, peacebuilding and security, and institutional development.
Although this is the second time Díaz-Canel has attended a BRICS summit, it is the first time he does so representing Cuba as a "partner country" of the group.
This new category, recently introduced, includes other nations from the Global South that aspire to take a more active role in the bloc, but do not yet have full rights: they will only be able to attend meetings as mere observers.
Although Cuba presents it as a diplomatic advance, its inclusion as a partner country is more of a symbolic opportunity that the regime seeks to exploit to the fullest in order to portray itself as a relevant player on the geopolitical stage, when in reality its influence is marginal.
The propaganda narrative insists that Cuba has "much to offer" to the BRICS: from its "international prestige" to its experience in biotechnology and medical cooperation, and even its status as a Caribbean country.
However, the uncomfortable truth is that it comes to the table facing the worst political crisis since 1959 and with empty hands, lacking the capacity for investment, production, or trade, except for its exportable labor, which is the main source of foreign currency through medical and technical personnel sent abroad.
The other side of multilateralism: asking for help without reforms
Havana aims to project an image of an authoritative voice from the Global South, but it does so while carrying the weight of decades of economic inefficiency, political repression, and dependence on international alliances that have only served to prolong a structural economic agony.
The government's strategy remains the same as always: to forge alliances with partners that allow it to secure funding without taking on any real commitments to political or economic reforms.
Hope appears to be focused on the New Development Bank of the BRICS, an institution established in 2014 that has served as an alternative to Western-dominated financial organizations.
But it remains to be seen whether Cuba, not being a member of the group but only a partner - a partner immersed in the worst economic crisis in its recent history - would have formal access to that source of funding, or if, as stated by a high-ranking official from MINREX, the Bank is "an entity under construction" that will offer "hopes to the countries of the South."
A regime without internal solutions
While Díaz-Canel smiles in the official photos in Rio de Janeiro and speaks of "collective construction" and "multilateral projects," in Cuba, the population is struggling to survive amidst blackouts, food shortages, rampant inflation, and unprecedented mass emigration.
The regime's inability to generate internal solutions has led to an international agenda characterized by a desperate search for external lifelines.
The BRICS are no exception: just as Russia, Venezuela, or China have been, today they become the new target of the Cuban lobby seeking financial support without accountability, structural changes, or democratization.
The diplomacy of desperation
Cuba's participation in this BRICS Summit is neither a victory nor a genuine acknowledgment of its political or economic capacity.
It is, at its core, evidence of a State that, without any internal room to maneuver, once again turns to the international stage with an open hand.
The grand statements of the Cuban diplomatic apparatus cannot hide the obvious: the regime is not seeking cooperation to build a new world order, but rather to survive another day.
Meanwhile, millions of Cubans continue to wait for real answers, not speeches, trips, or summits.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cuba's Participation in the BRICS Summit and Its Economic Context
Why is Miguel Díaz-Canel attending the BRICS Summit?
Miguel Díaz-Canel attends the BRICS Summit in search of funding and political support to alleviate Cuba's economic crisis. While the official narrative speaks of "South-South cooperation" and "multilateralism," the reality is that the Cuban regime urgently needs funds for a collapsed economy.
What does it mean for Cuba to be a "partner country" of the BRICS?
Being a "partner country" of the BRICS allows Cuba to participate in meetings as an attendee, without having full rights like the original members. This category is more symbolic than effective, as Cuba's influence within the alliance is marginal and does not imply direct economic benefits.
What is the current economic situation in Cuba?
Cuba faces one of its worst economic crises, characterized by power outages, food shortages, inflation, and unprecedented mass emigration. The regime seeks external solutions without implementing significant internal reforms.
What does Cuba seek in its relationship with Russia and China?
Cuba seeks material and political support from Russia and China to sustain its economy and counter international isolation. Although these alliances appear strategic, they actually reflect the Cuban regime's dependence on external allies amid its internal crisis.
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