The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX) firmly denied on Monday any allegations of interference from Havana in this year's electoral process in Florida. In an official statement, MINREX labeled these claims as "unfounded accusations" and vehemently rejected "in the strongest terms the accusation."
The statement stressed that the article published in the Miami Herald is based on "anonymous intelligence sources, a common practice of that journalistic organization and its writers when lies are the foundation of the report."
"The U.S. government cannot cite any evidence or indication, because none exist, that Cuba has interfered or intends to interfere in its electoral processes, nor that it is supporting any politician in the state of Florida or any other state in that country. Any reference to this is absolutely mendacious," the statement affirms.
The island’s Foreign Ministry took the opportunity to assert that this is "an illegitimate and unacceptable practice that has long accompanied U.S. foreign policy."
Allegations of Cuban Interference
The report referred to in the statement highlights alleged efforts by the Cuban government to interfere in the regional elections to be held in Florida in November, coinciding with the U.S. presidential elections. In addition to various local positions, congressional and federal senate representatives for the state will also be elected, with reports indicating that Havana aims to "attack" candidates hostile to the regime.
Citing a Office of the Director of National Intelligence official, McClatchy, the Miami Herald claimed that Cuba's plans were already underway. In December 2023, U.S. Intelligence services concluded that the Cuban government carried out influence operations in the country "aimed at denigrating specific U.S. candidates in Florida" during the 2022 elections.
"We assess that Cuba attempted to undermine the electoral prospects of specific U.S. congressional and gubernatorial politicians it considered hostile," the report states. The document notes the existence of a network of social media accounts "almost certainly covertly linked" to Cuba, which published "amplified derogatory content" about U.S. politicians deemed hostile to the Cuban state.
Frequently Asked Questions about Alleged Cuban Interference in Florida Elections
Here we address some common questions about the recent allegations of Cuban interference in Florida's elections, based on the information from the article.
What did the Cuban government say about the allegations?
The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs firmly denied the allegations, calling them "unfounded accusations" and rejecting them in the strongest terms.
What sources did the Miami Herald use for their report?
The Miami Herald's report is based on anonymous intelligence sources, which the Cuban government criticized as a common practice of the journalistic organization when lies are the foundation of the report.
What did U.S. Intelligence conclude about Cuban interference?
U.S. Intelligence concluded that the Cuban government carried out influence operations aimed at denigrating specific U.S. candidates in Florida during the 2022 elections.