Miguel Díaz-Canel published a message on his X account this Monday addressed to participants of the International Meeting of Solidarity with Cuba, promising that the island will continue to be "a beacon of hope in the Caribbean" for those who seek "a better world."
His words come amid strong tensions with the United States and while the country is undergoing its worst economic crisis in decades, with public discontent continuing to grow.
The message was made following the International Solidarity Meeting with Cuba and Anti-imperialism "100 Years with Fidel," held on May 2 and 3 at the Palace of Conventions in Havana, with 766 delegates from 152 organizations across 36 countries.
"When you grant us such solidarity, you also impose on us a tremendous commitment, because we know we cannot disappoint you," wrote Díaz-Canel. "We will not let you down because failing you would mean failing the hope of all the humble people on this planet."
In his speech to the delegates, the leader also warned that "no one should expect capitulations in Cuba" and compared the U.S. sanctions to the policies applied against Palestine and Iran, stating that "those who stand with Cuba at this moment stand for all time."
The rhetoric of resistance clashes head-on with the Cuban reality
Cuba is an extremely impoverished country. The regime chose to invest in hotels and abandoned the energy sector. Its mismanagement of the state has driven Cubans to despair.
Blackouts affect 63% of Cubans with outages lasting more than 24 hours, due to a significant generation deficit, worsened by the loss of Venezuelan oil supply following the capture of Nicolás Maduro in January 2026.
The GDP has recorded a decline of 23% since 2019, the average salary amounts to only 15 dollars per month, and 96,000 people —including 11,000 children— are awaiting pending surgeries. Eighty percent of Cubans believe this crisis is worse than the Special Period of the 1990s.
The contrast between the official discourse and everyday life did not go unnoticed on social media. Cuban users responded harshly to Díaz-Canel's call with phrases like "Don't speak for the people, you weren't elected" and "They took everything from us, even the fear."
The speech by Díaz-Canel and May 1st in Cuba
Another recent image that went viral was that of Díaz-Canel himself parading on May Day in Adidas sneakers valued at 1,449 dollars, a symbol of the chasm between the leadership and the population that survives on meager salaries.
The event also marked the reappearance of Raúl Castro, 94 years old, looking noticeably deteriorated after five months of public absence since December 2, 2025, including the 9th Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba held in March.
In that same context, Minister Bruno Rodríguez denied before international delegates that Cuba is an "ineffective" or failed state, while the UN warns that it needs 94 million dollars to assist two million people in 63 municipalities across eight provinces, with an uncovered deficit of 60 million.
The external pressure also does not relent. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on May 1 that expands sanctions against Cuba in the energy, finance, mining, defense, and security sectors, and for the first time introduces the threat of secondary sanctions against foreign companies operating in the island.
Díaz-Canel interpreted Trump's words as a reaction from Washington to the parade, stating that it "angered the First of May."
More than 600,000 Cubans have emigrated since 2022, a figure that more eloquently reflects the true state of mind of those who, according to the regime, are committed to defending hope from the island.
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