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While Cuba faces one of the worst humanitarian emergencies in recent decades following the devastating impact of the hurricane Melissa, the foreign minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla used his platform on social media to blame the United States for the crisis in tourism and the national economic collapse, reigniting political rhetoric even amidst the disaster.
In several excerpts of his speeches before the UN, shared on his X account, Rodríguez stated that the U.S. blockade is the direct cause of the collapse of tourism on the island.
"Another vital sector of the economy that has been particularly affected is tourism. Today, citizens from over 40 countries are being intimidated and threatened with reprisals by the United States government (...) if they decide to visit Cuba," stated the chancellor.
"The government of the United States not only restricts its own citizens' right to travel to Cuba but also manages to coerce citizens from other countries, especially Europeans, into compliance."
A collapsed country and a government in political campaign
While Rodríguez reiterates the blockade speech, millions of Cubans remain without electricity, cut off from communication, and amidst a critical situation in the eastern provinces.
Hurricane Melissa has caused massive flooding, destruction of homes, and total losses in rural communities, but the state apparatus seems more focused on its political narrative than on addressing the actual emergency.
On social media, dozens of Cubans have expressed outrage over the disconnect between the official message and the reality of the country.
"While the people in the East have nowhere to sleep, they keep talking about the United States. There is no water, no electricity, no food. And the priority remains the blockade," wrote a user from Holguín.
Propaganda and self-satisfaction in the midst of disaster
Rodríguez also took the opportunity to thank the support of political allies and sympathetic governments following the vote at the United Nations against the embargo, describing the resolution as a diplomatic “victory.”
“We thank the presidents, prime ministers, foreign ministers, and compatriots abroad who have conveyed their support following the recent victory against the blockade,” the chancellor published.
The message contrasts with the situation on the ground, where infrastructure is collapsing, hospitals lack supplies, and thousands of families are affected.
In practice, the country is experiencing a widespread crisis while the government continues to use official channels to repeat political slogans and divert attention from the humanitarian emergency.
The cruelest contrast
Instead of statements regarding the situation in Granma, Holguín, or Santiago de Cuba, or concrete announcements about the shipment of food, mattresses, or construction materials, the Cuban Foreign Ministry insisted on the narrative of the "external enemy."
The contrast between political discourse and everyday reality highlights the disconnect of the power elite from the urgent needs of the people. Nothing new in a country steeped in nearly eternal misfortune.
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