These days, Cuba has few friends and fewer options 

This weekend, the Summit in Defense of Democracy was held in Barcelona. Its primary objective was to save the Cuban dictatorship from an imminent regime change.

The event, whose name is worthy of George Orwell, was a total failure. A dozen delegations participated, yet only the presidents of Brazil, Mexico and Spain signed its declaration, attempting to prevent the emergence of a truly free and democratic Cuba after 67 years of authoritarian dictatorship.

Cuba is currently in agony — though not, as is often alleged, due to any supposed blockade against it. The dictatorship faces an economic crisis of its own making, driven by failed economic policies, military corruption and brutal repression. Compounding this, the communist regime now confronts a U.S. administration prepared to leverage its full power to bring an end to the longest-standing tyranny in the Americas.

Just over three months ago, Operation Absolute Resolve removed dictator Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela. As a result, hundreds of political prisoners have been released, Venezuelan diplomatic relations with the U.S. have been restored, the CIA and U.S. Southern Command officials have visited Caracas, and an alleged Hezbollah member has been extradited to Panama. Furthermore, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank are making strides toward normalizing operations in the country — all in the span of just three months. 

In this new context of rapid changes, the Cuban dictatorship finds itself with fewer friends and fewer options. Despite this reality, the presidents of Brazil, Mexico and Spain issued a declaration in which they “express their deep concern about the serious humanitarian crisis affecting the Cuban people and urge that necessary measures be taken to alleviate this situation and prevent actions that would worsen the population’s living conditions or are contrary to international law.” 

What the leftist leaders of these three nations failed to mention in their ideological declaration is that, although the Cuban population suffers from severe shortages of water, electricity and food, the business conglomerate of the Revolutionary Armed Forces — closely linked to the Castro family — enjoys a fortune valued at $17.9 billion. This level of corruption and inequality constitutes the island’s true problem.  

Seemingly oblivious to this reality, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated that no country should tell Cuba how to govern itself, and that no one may interfere in its sovereign decisions. This regrettable statement would imply that no country should exert pressure for the release of over a thousand political prisoners, for the respecting of religious freedom and freedom of the press, or for the guarantee of free elections — all the norm in any western democracy. The sovereignty of a dictatorship cannot serve as a justification for indifference toward the oppression and misery endured by 10 million Cubans. 

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum — whose nation is consistently among the leading U.S. trading partners — was the driving force behind the declaration opposing regime change in Cuba. 

“Democracy means elevating love above hatred; cultivating generosity instead of greed; fraternity above war. Democracy means that life cannot be bought — nor can freedom, or the dignity of peoples,” she said during the summit.

Sheinbaum asserted that she stands in defense of the people. But she has never spoken out in support of the Cuban people — only in support of the regime.  

The Cuban dictatorship has managed to outwit the international community for decades. Presidents Carter, Clinton and Obama tried to negotiate with the regime but were always deceived. Under President Trump, the chances for a real regime change are closer than ever before.

For the first time in seven decades, the Cuban dictatorship has reached a real turning point. Bilateral talks have already started. The release of a small number of political prisoners has been effected. A commercial opening for Cuban American citizens has been promised, and even the FBI has visited the island.

The peace-through-strength policy continues to work its magic, and a new dawn for Cuba is closer than we expect.

Arturo McFields is an exiled journalist, former Nicaraguan ambassador to the Organization of American States, and a former member of the Norwegian Peace Corps. He is an alumnus of the National Defense University’s Security and Defense Seminar and the Harvard Leadership course.  

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