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A military recruitment event held this Wednesday in Maisí, the easternmost municipality of Cuba, was broadcast by an official page linked to local authorities, amid rising tensions between Havana and Washington and increasing criticism of the Active Military Service (SMA).
The images, published by the Facebook page "Dme Maisí Guantánamo Cuba", show a uniformed officer reading documents in front of a group of young people holding Cuban and Young Communist Union (UJC) flags.
The publication presents the event as a farewell ceremony for those joining military service and cites the Constitution, Law No. 75 on National Defense, and Decree-Law 224 of 2001 as the legal basis for the process.
"At the call of duty, they prepare to fulfill this stage of their lives," states the text released by the entity.
However, the official narrative contrasts with the complaints made in recent years by Cuban families who have questioned the mandatory nature of recruitment and the conditions under which thousands of young people serve in Active Military Service.
The event took place at a particularly sensitive time. Since early 2026, the regime has intensified its military preparation rhetoric following the deterioration of relations with the United States.
In June, Miguel Díaz-Canel stated that Cuba would respond to any external aggression.
"If the homeland is attacked, we will respond in legitimate defense. And if they try to enter, let there be no doubt, there will be a determined and firm fight," stated the Cuban leader at that time.
The location of Maisí adds a symbolic dimension to the event. The municipality is part of the province of Guantánamo, which is home to the U.S. naval base, one of the main points of friction between the two countries.
In recent months, the official rhetoric regarding a potential confrontation has also moved into the public sphere. During official activities held this year, figures close to the regime have made bellicose statements in defense of a possible Cuban military response.
While the authorities promote military service as a patriotic duty, independent organizations and families of recruits continue to report accidents, negligence, and deaths occurring during the performance of the SMA.
Data collected by Archivo Cuba and CubaXCuba indicate that at least 67 recruits died between 2018 and early 2026 due to various causes, including suicides, accidents, and alleged negligence. Meanwhile, Cubalex documented at least 19 deaths of young people during military service solely in 2025.
The province of Guantánamo has recently been the scene of some of these cases. In December 2025, Eldis Leyva Nieves, 19 years old, passed away after being injured during shooting practice. Months later, in February 2026, Abraham Limonta Estrada, 17 years old, died at the Military Unit "La Marquesita," an event that caused shock among family and friends.
Concerns about the safety of recruits are compounded by the lack of legal mechanisms to refuse military service on grounds of conscience. Cuban legislation does not recognize this right and imposes penalties on those who fail to fulfill their registration or incorporation obligations.
The Decree 103 of 2024 includes fines of up to 7,000 pesos for those who do not show up when summoned, as well as potential criminal consequences in cases deemed repeat offenses.
In this context, the event held in Maisí reflects the continuity of a recruitment policy that the authorities present as a civic duty, yet it continues to raise concerns among numerous Cuban families regarding the risks and the limited legal options to prevent their children from being incorporated into Active Military Service.
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