The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba Carlos Fernández de Cossío stated in an interview with CNN that “the people of Cuba supported that and take pride in it” referring to the cost of maintaining a Cuban security apparatus for then-President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela.
The comment arose when the interviewer asked how resources were justified for that mission amidst the internal crisis on the island.
In the exchange, Fernández de Cossío denied that Cuba had “troops” in Venezuela and maintained that Havana was “very clear” in previous years by asserting that it did not participate in military operations in that country.
He explained that what existed was a "security detail" for the Venezuelan president, and argued that this does not equate to a military deployment (“there was no regiment, there was no battalion,” he stated).
"In Venezuela, the officials who, as you stated, lost their lives, are personal security details for the president of Venezuela. That is by no means equivalent to the troops," he justified.
When asked who was paying for that security, the deputy minister replied that the Maduro government was not paying for it and that it was a matter of "cooperation."
He later stated that Cuba paid the salaries of those individuals and dismissed the criticism that such spending was unjustifiable in light of needs like stable electricity, comparing it to U.S. military spending and concluding that, in his opinion, the majority of Cubans supported that effort.
The statements were made during an interview focused on the state of relations with Washington, in which the official said that Cuba would be open to a “meaningful” dialogue with the United States, but made it clear that it would not discuss a change in its system of government.
He also stated that there is currently no "bilateral dialogue," although there have been exchanges of messages linked to the highest levels of the Cuban government.
In the same context, the deputy minister addressed the impact of U.S. pressure on fuel supply, describing the situation as coercive economic measures with effects comparable "to a war."
He mentioned that the Cuban population is facing blackouts and long lines due to a decrease in fuel, along with possible austerity measures.
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