Lies, economic strangulation and genocide: The US vs. Cuba

 by JR Valrey, The People’s Minister of Information

Food shortages, blackouts, no petrol throughout the whole island are all everyday realities that Cubans have to deal with because the United States government has imposed a complete oil blockade over the last six months. On top of that is the 67-year-old general blockade of the sovereign nation, severely punishing nations and businesses that conduct business with the island nation – all because Cubans want to run Cuba without foreign interference. 

The Second Secretary of the Cuban Embassy, Gabrilla Castillo, has been gracious enough to answer a few questions that contradict this country’s mainstream media propaganda campaign against Cuba. All of this is occurring in the wake of the United States government looking to fabricate a provocative reason that would justify an invasion of Cuba to the international world. 

JR Valrey: The US government has recently placed murder charges on Raul Castro, the former Cuban president and revolutionary combatant, for a 1996 incident where the Cuban government shot down a plane invading Cuban airspace/ What are your thoughts?

Gabriella Castillo: JR, thank you so much for the possibility of this interview. To answer your first question, yes, after weeks of talking about it, on May 20 the U.S. Department of Justice officially announced charges against the leader of the Cuban Revolution, Raúl Castro.

That same day, the Cuban Revolutionary Government released a very strong statement making it clear that the U.S. government has neither the legitimacy nor the jurisdiction to carry out an action like this, especially when it’s based on a complete distortion of the facts.

For people who might not know the background here, the accusation is tied to the 1996 incident where two planes operated by the Miami-based terrorist group “Brothers to the Rescue” were shot down after violating Cuban airspace. What a lot of people leave out is that, before that happened, those planes had repeatedly violated Cuba’s airspace for hostile purposes, and everybody knew it.

And when I say everybody knew it, I mean the Cuban government had already made public warnings and filed formal complaints with the U.S. State Department, the Federal Aviation Administration, the International Civil Aviation Organization, and even directly warned the president of the United States at the time. All of that got ignored.

We’re talking about 25 serious and deliberate violations of Cuban airspace over a period of two straight years. So honestly, what sovereign country would just sit back and allow that without defending itself? Even in that tense situation, Cuba exhausted every diplomatic route possible to avoid a tragic outcome. We are a people who believe in peace, but we also have the right to defend ourselves. That right is recognized under the UN Charter and international law.

That’s the real context behind these accusations against Raúl. Raúl is a symbol of the Cuban Revolution. He earned the respect of the Cuban people because he dedicated his entire life to defending Cuba — from the Moncada uprising, to the Sierra Maestra, to the responsibilities he took on after 1959, including serving as president.

And beyond Cuba, Raúl is internationally respected for Cuba’s role as a guarantor in the Colombian peace talks, for helping lead the effort to declare Latin America a Zone of Peace, and for something that matters deeply to both Cubans and Americans: the process of restoring diplomatic relations between our two countries.

Raúl is a symbol. And people defend their symbols.

That’s why thousands of Cubans gathered at Havana’s Anti-Imperialist Tribune to reject these accusations against Raúl, because at the end of the day, this is seen by many Cubans as a fraudulent attack not just on one man, but on the country itself.

JR Valrey: Do you think that the US government is using the indictment of Raul Castro as a pretext for military aggression?

Gabriella Castillo: I think this accusation is just another addition to a long — very long — list of excuses used to try to manufacture consent for aggression against Cuba and ultimately to justify the collective and ruthless punishment imposed on the Cuban people.

That punishment includes almost 70 years of the economic, commercial and financial blockade against my country, and more recently the oil blockade, with all of its massive extraterritorial impacts. These policies don’t just target the Cuban government — they directly affect ordinary people, families, hospitals, transportation, food production and daily life across the island. But despite all the difficulties, Cuba continues defending its sovereignty and its right to decide its own future without foreign interference.

JR Valrey: How has the unjust US imposed oil blockade affected Cuban society, compounded with the illegal US imposed 67-year general blockade? 

Gabriella Castillo: Right now, I can honestly tell you, without exaggeration, that there is not a single aspect of everyday life in Cuba that hasn’t been impacted by this situation.

People are dealing with blackouts lasting close to — or even more than — 24 hours at a time. There are serious difficulties distributing food, buying food, pumping clean drinking water, and accessing basic medicines. Schools are facing enormous challenges just to maintain normal classes and daily operations.

And one of the most painful impacts is what’s happening in the healthcare sector, because it directly affects the right to life. For Cuba, free and universal healthcare has always been a national priority, and for decades the country maintained health indicators comparable to developed nations.

Something especially shocking — and something Congressmembers Pramila Jayapal and Jonathan Jackson pointed out during their visit to Cuba in April — is the impact on pediatric care.

For decades, Cuba had some of the lowest infant mortality rates in the world, even lower than those of the United States since the 1970s. But over the last eight years, infant mortality in Cuba has more than doubled, rising from 4.0 to 9.9 deaths per 1,000 live births. Conditions in Cuban hospitals have deteriorated rapidly since the current U.S. administration imposed the oil blockade.

The extraterritorial sanctions imposed by the United States make it extremely difficult — and sometimes outright impossible — for Cuba to purchase new medical equipment like incubators and ventilators for maternity and pediatric hospitals.

A few months ago, Cuba’s Minister of Health reported that more than 11,000 Cuban children are currently waiting for surgery. Sadly, that number will likely continue growing as long as the sanctions and oil blockade remain in place.

At the same time, worsening food shortages have also contributed to rising infant mortality rates, partly because many pregnant women are unable to access adequate nutrition.

And now, on top of the shortages of medicine and medical equipment, hospitals are also struggling with fuel shortages. The government has tried to prioritize electricity for hospitals even when entire cities are without power, but even that protection is beginning to fail.

That’s the reality Cuba is facing today. And in the middle of all this, it’s important to recognize the incredible dedication of Cuban doctors, nurses, scientists and healthcare workers, who continue saving lives despite impossible conditions. But they are fighting an uphill battle against time.

Sanctions kill — there should be no doubt about that. Maybe bombs are not falling on Cuba right now, but this is still a form of war. A war that is directly affecting the lives of our children, our elderly and our most vulnerable people.

JR Valrey: Can you talk a little bit about the strides Cuba has made in the sector of solar energy?

Gabriella Castillo: Despite the severe fuel shortages caused by the tightening of U.S. sanctions and the energy blockade, Cuba has been pushing hard to move forward in renewable energy, especially solar power.

Over the last few years, the country has rapidly expanded its solar energy capacity, reaching around 1,700 megawatts of installed solar generation. For Cuba, this is not just about environmental policy — it’s become a matter of energy security and national survival. The goal is to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels and bring more stability to the electrical grid.

Right now, Cuba is developing a major national project aimed at installing 2,000 megawatts of solar power across the country. The first phase includes the construction of dozens of solar parks in every province, while a second phase is expected to expand that capacity even further by 2031.

And this effort is not only focused on the national grid. Cuba has also prioritized installing solar panels in essential public services like hospitals, schools, water pumping systems, rural clinics and community centers. In many places, these systems are helping communities maintain vital services during blackouts and fuel shortages.

So even in the middle of an extremely difficult economic and energy crisis, Cuba is still investing in a cleaner and more sustainable future. It’s a huge challenge, but it also shows the country’s determination to adapt, resist and keep moving forward despite the pressure it faces.

JR Valrey: What are your thoughts on a US Navy aircraft carrier being stationed close to Cuban waters similar to how the navy was positioned when they invaded Venezuela to abduct Venezuelan President Maduro, in January?

Gabriella Castillo: Look, our country is doing everything possible to achieve a diplomatic solution to the current situation. We do not want a war with the United States, and we know that the overwhelming majority of the American people do not want a war with Cuba either.

Our Foreign Minister has said very clearly that a conflict between our countries would be a bloodbath where valuable lives would be lost on both sides. That’s why Cuba’s position will always be to pursue dialogue, because dialogue is the only responsible path forward in a moment like this.

That being said, Cuba is also a people with a deep conviction to defend its sovereignty no matter the cost. Hopefully, a scenario of aggression never happens — that is absolutely not what we want — but if it does happen, considering all the threats of agression, we will defend ourselves, and we will defend our homeland.

Beyond any criticism or internal differences, Cubans will always put the country first — our land, our dignity, and everything we have built through so much sacrifice and despite decades of constant pressure and hostility. At the end of the day, when it comes to defending Cuba’s sovereignty, that sense of unity runs very deep among our people.

JR Valrey: What are your thoughts on the National Black Caucus in the US Congress writing an official letter condemning the blockade on Cuba? 

Gabriella Castillo: Just like the many other voices speaking out against the blockade and in favor of a respectful and constructive relationship between two neighboring countries, the letter from the Congressional Black Caucus is another clear example that this policy of economic suffocation against the Cuban people does not reflect the feelings of the majority of the American people.

Cuba has a long and historic relationship with the Congressional Black Caucus, one built on mutual respect and dialogue. Over the years, several members of the CBC have visited Cuba and witnessed firsthand the humanitarian impact that the blockade has on the daily lives of ordinary Cubans.

We deeply appreciate this position, especially at a time when the tightening of unilateral sanctions is seriously affecting essential sectors like healthcare, food security, energy and the overall well-being of Cuban families.

Statements like this show that there are sectors within U.S. society and even within the American political class that support dialogue, cooperation and respect for Cuba’s sovereignty instead of hostility and collective punishment.

JR Valrey: What are your thoughts on the US government continuing to employ the imperialist Monroe Doctrine 2.0 aka the Donroe Doctrine in the Americas and the Caribbean specifically in the last six months with military aggression being used against Venezuela, Ecuador, Mexico and threats issued against Cuba and Colombia?

Gabriella Castillo: The reactivation of the so-called Monroe Doctrine reflects an anachronistic and interventionist view of hemispheric relations. It does not contribute to regional stability or to respect for international law. On the contrary, it generates tensions, undermines the sovereignty of states, and hinders efforts toward cooperation and regional integration.

Latin America and the Caribbean have historically declared their aspiration to be a Zone of Peace, based on mutual respect, non-interference in internal affairs and the peaceful resolution of disputes. Any attempt to impose agendas through military, economic or political pressure goes against these principles and revives practices that many peoples in the region consider outdated and unacceptable.

Cuba has always defended the need for international relations based on sovereign equality, dialogue and cooperation, rather than hegemonic doctrines or threats of force. The peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean have the right to freely determine their own destiny, without external interference.

JR Valrey: What can people do to support the Cuban Revolution at this vital time? 

Gabriella Castillo: As a diplomat, and in accordance with the principles established in the Vienna Convention that guide the conduct of foreign officials accredited abroad, it would not be appropriate for me to encourage or direct anyone toward any particular course of action. But I truly appreciate your interest in staying informed about Cuba and the challenges our people are facing.

SF Bay View Editor-in-Chief JR Valrey is a veteran journalist who can be heard weekly on Wednesdays on 89.5FM KPOO or KPOO.com from noon to 3 p.m. His work can also be heard on www.blockreportradioworld.com. 

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