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The Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, stated this Wednesday in Congress that the future of Cuba must be decided exclusively by the Cubans, a stance that distances itself from the pressure policy promoted by the administration of President Donald Trump.
During his intervention, Albares advocated for sending humanitarian aid to the island and affirmed that Spain is already working both bilaterally and within the European Union to address the crisis the country is facing.
The chancellor, who is now distancing himself but previously had promised humanitarian aid in essential food and sanitary materials to Cuba through the United Nations system, emphasized that this assistance aims to relieve the situation of the Cuban people amid a scenario marked by shortages and economic difficulties.
He also reiterated the Spanish government's rejection of the U.S. embargo and emphasized that Spain will "always stand by the Cuban people" to ensure emergency assistance and support during what he described as a complex time.
In that sense, Albares emphasized that it must be "they and only they" who decide the future of Cuba freely, advocating for a solution based on the will of the citizens within the island and not on external pressures.
The issue of Cuba once again generated tensions in the Spanish Congress, where leftist sectors took advantage of the debate to openly defend the Cuban regime and challenge Washington's policy.
The spokesperson for Esquerra Republicana, Gabriel Rufián, in his intervention described U.S. policy as a “brutal blockade” and asserted that Cuba is a political symbol on a global scale.
In his remarks, he also praised the Cuban system by highlighting its performance during the pandemic and the dispatch of doctors to other countries.
His statements contrasted with the criticisms from other sectors that highlight the lack of freedoms on the island and hold the regime responsible for the deep economic and social crisis affecting millions of Cubans.
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