The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Carlos Fernández de Cossío stated that in his home, power outages occur “every four hours” and that, faced with this situation, he, his wife, and his family feel “the urge to protest.”
In an interview granted to the media Zeteo, the regime official insisted, however, that closing streets and blocking roads is “illegitimate” and “will not bring energy.”
In his statements, he also denounced the existence of a “well-funded machinery” in the United States that —he claimed— encourages Cubans to take to the streets.
Fernández de Cossío drew a line between what he considers legitimate complaints about the lack of electricity and protest actions that involve disrupting traffic.
“It is legitimate for people to complain,” he noted, but he attributed the calls to protest to a campaign organized from abroad. “There is a very well-funded machinery (...) that incites people to act against the government,” he stated.
When questioned about the evidence of this alleged interference, he responded that there is evidence in messages that reach people —and that he himself has received— through social networks and digital platforms, citing posts on Facebook and content that appears when searching on Google.
The Deputy Minister emphasized that blackouts “happen all over the world”, and defended that criticizing external calls is “very fair and legitimate,” while reiterating that blocking streets or “taking to the streets” does not solve the energy problem.
In line with the regime, he blamed the U.S. embargo for the serious Cuban crisis.
"U.S. is trying to isolate Cuba from the global economy. Which country can sustain its economy and develop if the most powerful economy in the world has the ability to threaten and pressure other governments and economies if they have ties with Cuba?" he said.
Mehdi and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs exchange opinions on the human rights record in Cuba, discussing whether its leaders are elected democratically, whether the government truly supports a free press, and whether the island nation harbors "terrorists," as claimed by the Trump administration.
In the interview, he was also questioned about Cuba's human rights record, the lack of democratic freedoms, the absence of a free press, and the accusations that the island harbors individuals labeled as “terrorists” by the Donald Trump administration.
De Cossío defended the Cuban political model and rejected the criticisms. Furthermore, he stated that Havana will offer its “full political support” to the government of Nicolás Maduro.
However, he avoided specifying whether that support could translate into military assistance; rather, he was cautious and described the question as "dangerous," while asserting that "Cuba will not go to war with the United States, it will provide total political support to Venezuela, solidarity support," he emphasized.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Energy and Political Situation in Cuba
How does the U.S. embargo impact the energy crisis in Cuba?
The Cuban government blames the U.S. embargo for the energy crisis, arguing that it prevents access to the markets, technology, and financing necessary to maintain and repair the electrical infrastructure. However, critics of the regime point out that poor internal management and corruption are also significant factors in the current crisis.
What does the Cuban deputy minister say about blackouts in his own home?
The Deputy Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío stated that there are power outages in his home “every four hours”, which causes frustration for his family. However, he argues that protests over this situation, such as closing streets, are neither legitimate nor effective in resolving the energy problem.
Is there evidence of foreign interference in the Cuban protests according to the government?
The Cuban deputy minister assures that there is a "well-funded machinery" from the United States that incites Cubans to protest against the government. However, he did not present concrete evidence beyond mentioning messages on social media as proof of this interference.
What is the Cuban government's stance on international criticisms regarding human rights?
The Cuban government rejects criticisms regarding human rights and denies the existence of political prisoners. It accuses international organizations of producing biased reports funded by opponents of the regime. It defends its political model and accuses the United States of trying to destabilize the country.
How does Cuba respond to accusations of forced labor in its international medical missions?
The Cuban government defends its medical missions as an act of international solidarity, asserting that doctors receive their full salary and a stipend abroad. However, independent reports indicate that the regime withholds a significant portion of the salaries paid by the recipient countries and that doctors face restrictions and reprisals if they do not participate.
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