In Moscow, as Cuba faces one of the worst economic and energy crises in its history, Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla has reiterated the same script that the regime has been repeating for decades.
Promises that go unfulfilled, explanations that reduce everything to external factors, and one lie that stands out above all: that the Cuban people suffer, but they do so with "broad consensus" and a "high level of awareness".
Empty Promises: The Recovery That Never Comes
Before his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, Rodríguez stated:
“We will always defend our independence and sovereignty with determination, we will maintain our unchanging course in the pursuit of greater economic efficiency, and we will tirelessly work, as we have so far, on the recovery of our economy, while also being always ready for a respectful dialogue on equal terms with any country.”
Speaking of "greater economic efficiency" and "recovery" stands in stark contrast to the reality of prolonged blackouts, fuel shortages, uncontrolled inflation, and an unprecedented migration exodus.
The rhetorical formula is well-known: resistance, sovereignty, recovery, but the economy continues to decline.
The energy crisis has even forced the suspension of sales of tourism packages from Russia, after the Cuban government itself announced that it would not guarantee fuel for planes landing on the island.
The promise of recovery is repeated year after year, without concrete deadlines or verifiable results.
The great lie: The supposed "broad consensus" of the people
But the most controversial claim is this:
"Our people are currently enduring deprivation and very difficult conditions, but they do so with a strong consensus and a high level of awareness of the cause of these problems."
That phrase encapsulates the official narrative: suffering exists, but it is collectively accepted and directed against an external enemy; the Cuban government is a victim, not the cause.
Presenting sacrifice as unanimity ignores the diversity of opinions and the growing social unrest.
However, the facts tell a different story. More than a million Cubans have left the country in a recent record period. The protests on July 11, 2021, and the subsequent demonstrations highlighted profound discontent.
Judicial convictions and the increase in repression have defined the following years. Consensus is not assumed; it is demonstrated. And today in Cuba, mass migration and visible discontent contradict that narrative.
The discourse against the United States: the ongoing narrative
In his statement, Rodríguez affirmed:
"We share a deep concern over the deterioration of the international order, which was already unjust and precarious but is now being replaced by the practices of the U.S. government involving the exploitation and occupation of natural resources, a total transgression of international law, and disregard for the United Nations. This threatens not only the current order, multilateralism, the United Nations and other organizations, but also the sovereignty and security of all states without exception."
He also stated that Cuba faces "an even greater threat that adds to decades of blockade, and which is now intensified by the executive order that declares Cuba an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States."
The official Russian statement supported that position.
Moscow expressed a “strong condemnation” of Washington's measures and reiterated its support for Cuba's demand to end the embargo and remove the island from the list of countries designated as "state sponsors" of terrorism.
Lavrov urged the United States to "show common sense" and refrain from what he described as a "maritime blockade," and promised that Russia "will continue to support Cuba and its people in the protection of the country's sovereignty and security."
Russia as a lifeline in the midst of crisis
At the end of his presentation, Bruno Rodríguez stated that "the relations between the Federation of Russia and the Republic of Cuba are historical, fraternal, special, and strategic; the bilateral cooperation projects are progressing well, and I am confident that despite any circumstances, we will continue to advance in the objectives we have mutually set."
"Great satisfaction to meet again with my esteemed friend Serguei Lavrov, Foreign Minister of #Russia. I expressed my gratitude for the traditional and historic solidarity and support from Russia to #Cuba, particularly in facing the blockade and energy siege. We will work together in defense of International Law, multilateralism, and International Peace and Security," he wrote on X.
The meeting was described from the Kremlin as having taken place in a "traditionally friendly and trusting atmosphere," and the willingness to strengthen the "strategic partnership" was confirmed.
But the context reveals the urgency behind the diplomacy. Venezuela stopped selling crude oil to Cuba in January, and Mexico suspended shipments following tariff threats from Washington.
Russian media have reported that Moscow is considering sending a humanitarian fuel shipment to Havana.
More than an ideological alliance, the relationship with Russia today appears as an immediate energy necessity.
While in Moscow there was talk of multilateralism and sovereignty, in Cuba blackouts, shortages, and mass migration continue.
Bruno Rodríguez's statements combine reiterated promises of economic recovery, a narrative focused exclusively on the embargo, and the assertion of a popular consensus that the facts completely contradict.
And it is precisely there that the greatest contradiction of their discourse lies: in presenting the suffering of millions as a demonstration of unanimity.
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