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The Cuban singer-songwriter Silvio Rodríguez stated that “the world is governed by an authoritarian, militaristic, and thieving regime. And it is not Cuba,” in an interview with the newspaper El País, where he once again defended the political system of the island while acknowledging the severity of the economic crisis.
The statement was made during a conversation in his studio Ojalá, in Havana, where he discussed both the international context and the internal situation in Cuba.
During the interview, Rodríguez held the United States responsible for a historical policy of interventions and asserted that the true “authoritarian regime” is the global order led by Washington.
He also lashed out at those who support external intervention in the island, clearly referring to certain sectors of the Cuban exile: “I’m not going to tell you what I think of those who want their own country to be bombed and invaded.”
In this context, he made his position on the country's political future clear by reiterating that he does not desire a change of power driven by the opposition, believing it would have negative consequences for Cuba.
The statements come days after the artist publicly requested a rifle in anticipation of a possible scenario involving U.S. military intervention and subsequently received a replica of the AKM during an official event led by Miguel Díaz-Canel and the minister of the FAR.
Although he clarified that the weapon is symbolic, he explained that he was given a document that would allow him to access a real rifle in the event of armed conflict. "I see it as possible," he said regarding a potential action by the United States against the island.
The gesture generated strong criticism on social media and among opponents, against a backdrop marked by prolonged blackouts, food shortages, and increasing social unrest.
Despite his defense of the political system, Rodríguez acknowledged structural flaws in the Cuban economic model. He pointed out that the so-called "book socialist" system is "very idealistic" and criticized the government's "orthodox and closed" perspective in this area.
He also considered that the reforms have come too late and that changes should have been implemented decades ago to encourage production and reduce bureaucratic obstacles.
The singer-songwriter vividly described the situation facing the population, characterized by high inflation, shortages of basic goods, and the deterioration of services such as healthcare and education. “Old folks like me, with a lifetime of savings, sometimes can't even afford a carton of eggs,” he stated.
Regarding the protests and pot-banging demonstrations that have taken place in the country, he stated that they are a "normal" reaction to the difficult living conditions, although he refrained from directly blaming the political system for the crisis.
An emblematic figure of the Nueva Trova and for decades linked to the official discourse, Silvio Rodríguez remains an influential and controversial voice within the Cuban landscape.
His statements, which blend economic critiques with a defense of the political system, once again place at the center of the debate the role of artists and intellectuals close to the power in a country marked by scarcity, emigration, and social discontent.
"The world is led by an authoritarian, warlike, and thieving regime. And it’s not Cuba," he insisted, summarizing a stance that has generated reactions both inside and outside the island.
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