During a speech at the High-Level Segment of the 58th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla made it clear that the Cuban regime has no intention of altering its internal policies, despite the severe economic and social crisis gripping the island. Adhering to the official line, Rodríguez blamed U.S. economic sanctions as the primary cause of the hardships faced by Cuban families.
"The economic blockade causes inflation, reduced availability of fuel, food, and medicines, and severe damage to the electricity service. It hinders the full enjoyment of the rights to food, health, culture, and education, which the Cuban State provides free of charge or heavily subsidized," the foreign minister stated. However, Rodríguez failed to acknowledge the structural deficiencies and poor governance by the Cuban government as significant contributors to the inflation, food and medicine shortages, and the collapse of the electrical system that has plagued the country for the past five years.
Western Criticism and Cuban Defense
In his address, the foreign minister criticized Western nations, accusing them of using the Human Rights Council as a tool to target countries that do not align with their interests. "The attempts by Western countries to turn this Council into a repressor against nations that do not subordinate to their interests are unacceptable," he declared, ignoring the numerous international reports of repression in Cuba, arbitrary detentions, and persecution of dissenters. Rodríguez also accused the United States of being an "active accomplice in the Israeli genocide in Gaza" and condemned Cuba's recent inclusion on the list of state sponsors of terrorism. He did not address documented human rights violations within the island or the lack of fundamental freedoms for Cubans themselves.
Commitment to Ideology Over People
The most striking statement by the foreign minister underscored the regime's political stance: "Cuba will remain steadfast in its creative and selfless resistance." This assertion reinforces the Cuban government's immobility, continuing to prioritize its ideological model over the needs and demands of its people. While Rodríguez defended the "sovereignty" and "socialist state of law and social justice," the reality in Cuba tells a different story: prolonged blackouts, rampant inflation, food and medicine shortages, and increasing repression against those who dare to speak out.
The "creative and selfless resistance" that the foreign minister speaks of translates into the daily survival of millions of Cubans trapped in an unending crisis.
No Relief in Sight for Cuba
Rodríguez's words at the UN confirm what many feared: There will be no changes or reforms to alleviate the suffering of the Cuban people. The regime clings to its rhetoric of resistance while the population faces the daily consequences of a collapsed economy and a political system closed to any democratic opening.
On the streets of Cuba, the "full dignity of man" promised by Rodríguez increasingly rings hollow, while despair and exhaustion dictate the rhythm of a nation that can no longer endure.
Understanding Cuba's Political Stance and Economic Crisis
What are the main reasons for Cuba's economic crisis?
Cuba's economic crisis is primarily attributed to U.S. economic sanctions, but internal factors such as structural deficiencies, poor governance, and a collapsed electrical system also play significant roles.
How does the Cuban government justify its resistance to change?
The Cuban government justifies its resistance to change by emphasizing its commitment to sovereignty, socialist principles, and framing its stance as a creative and selfless resistance against foreign pressures.
What has been the international response to Cuba's human rights record?
Internationally, there have been numerous reports and criticisms regarding human rights violations in Cuba, including repression, arbitrary detentions, and lack of fundamental freedoms.