Miguel Díaz-Canel delivered a speech this Thursday at the corner of 23 and 12 in Vedado, Havana, to mark the 65th anniversary of the proclamation of the socialist character of the Cuban Revolution, in which he acknowledged the existence of "own errors" of the regime, but placed the responsibility for the crisis on Washington.
"The impacts of decades of blockade and financial persecution are very visible in our homes, industries, in the lack of goods, even the essentials, in the scarcity of almost everything," he said. "The mistakes on our part in this process of social construction with its peculiar and very Cuban characteristics are also visible."
However, the leader was unequivocal in establishing a hierarchy of blame: "The main cause of our problems is the genocidal blockade imposed by the United States government against our people."
Díaz-Canel described life in Cuba starkly but downplayed the government's responsibility in this crisis.
"Cuban everyday life is painful, from the vital rest interrupted first by the blackout and then by the return of electricity after long hours, which has pushed domestic work to the early mornings, to the paralysis of industries, transportation, essential services, and production, due to a complete lack of fuel for almost everything."
Despite the fact that the crisis has been intensifying since the beginning of his term, the leader rejected the characterization of Cuba as a failed state.
"No, gentlemen of manipulation and lies, Cuba is not a failed state. Cuba is a besieged state. Cuba is a state facing multidimensional aggression: economic warfare, intensified blockade, and energy blockade," he said.
The leader called for a "national and international movement of solidarity that brings the truth of Cuba to every corner of the planet," describing the situation as "genocide due to extreme levels of deprivation."
The speech also included a warning about a possible armed confrontation with Donald Trump's government.
"The moment is extremely challenging and calls us once again to be ready to face serious threats, among them military aggression. We do not want it, but it is our duty to prepare to avert it and, if it is inevitable, to win it."
The speech occurs during the worst economic and energy moment since the Special Period of the 1990s. The crisis intensified following the cut in Venezuelan crude oil supplies and the suspension of shipments from Mexico in January 2026, under the pressure of tariffs from Washington.
The event on April 16 is part of a media offensive by the regime aimed at international audiences. On April 7, Díaz-Canel granted an interview to Newsweek where he warned of a "guerrilla war" in response to a U.S. military aggression.
Three days later, he appeared on the "Meet the Press" program of NBC News — the first interview with a Cuban leader on that network since 1959 — where he declared: I am not afraid. "I am willing to give my life for the revolution."
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