Diego Suárez, co-founder of the Cuban American National Foundation (FNCA) and a direct witness to the events, reveals in an interview with CiberCuba a story he has never told publicly before: the regime of Fidel Castro secretly threatened the United States to interfere with all radio stations in the center of the country if Radio Martí went on the air in 1985.
Suárez, a historic businessman of the Cuban exile community, who will turn 100 in November, claims that this information has remained unheard until now: "This is the first time it will be said; this truth has never been revealed... These are historical truths, and I refer to historical truths."
According to his account, the Cuban regime not only issued the threat but also backed it up with a practical demonstration: "They interfered with two or three stations as a show so that the Americans would know they could do it."
That pressure kept the launch blocked for weeks, even though President Ronald Reagan had already signed the law authorizing the broadcaster in October 1983 and everything was technically ready to transmit.
The situation was resolved thanks to a private meeting between Jorge Mas Canosa and Reagan in early May 1985. "Jorge, with his leadership, went to that meeting with President Reagan, and President Reagan did everything he had to do as president," recounts Suárez.
In that meeting, Reagan called the Pentagon and gave precise instructions: "Thirty days before we go on air, inform the Cuban government that if there is any interference, even just one instance of interference from any of the stations, the location from which that interference originates will be bombed by American aviation."
The ultimatum was communicated directly to Havana. "This was conveyed to Fidel Castro directly, and this is breaking news," emphasizes Suárez.
According to Diego Suárez's account, Reagan was adamant when his advisors warned him about the risks: "Mr. President, you know the risk this entails," to which the president replied, "We are not going to take any risks."
Radio Martí first went on air on May 20, 1985 from transmitters in Cayo Maratón, Florida, on the AM frequency of 1180 kHz, with 50,000 watts of power. Cuba did not carry out its threat of massive interference.
The project was conceived in the image of Radio Free Europe, established after World War II to broadcast into the countries of the Soviet bloc, with the aim of providing the Cuban people with accurate information about what was happening inside and outside the island.
The Cuban-American National Foundation also promoted the Torricelli Act and the Helms-Burton Act in the 90s. The latter, following the downing of the Brothers to the Rescue planes.
In 2025, the Trump Administration ordered the dismantling of Radio and TV Martí, a decision that sparked strong reactions in the Cuban exile community and among advocates for press freedom in Cuba. Ultimately, the technical shutdown was reversed.
Jorge Mas Canosa, the man who unlocked the launch of Radio Martí with that decisive meeting at the White House, passed away in 1997. Diego Suárez is convinced that the regime is behind his death. He, on the other hand, in 2026, at nearly a hundred years old, is one of the last direct witnesses of that foundational era and believes that this will be the year of Cuba's freedom: "I don't just believe it; I am absolutely certain."
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