Gone are the days when the so-called "Cuban revolution"—essentially dictator Fidel Castro—would proclaim to Cuban emigrants, "we don't want you, we don't need you." As we near the 45th anniversary of this decree that divided Cuban families into "revolutionaries" and "counter-revolutionaries," the totalitarian regime founded by Castro is adopting a more diplomatic tone. Now, they beseech their compatriots abroad to show solidarity and support Cuba and its people.
This is the most refined way the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX) has found to seek help or garner support for its authoritarian project—one rooted in terror, rights violations, silence, deceit, and opportunism masquerading as patriotism. Without the backing of the Soviet "pipeline" from the 1980s and engulfed in an unparalleled crisis triggered by the slow collapse of a system opposed to market economics and universal human rights, the Cuban regime has spent decades performing geopolitical acrobatics to maintain its grip on power.
After exploiting Venezuela and other ALBA allies, and pleading with sympathizers worldwide, the regime has also surrendered sovereignty to Vladimir Putin and opened Latin America to interests from Moscow, Beijing, and Tehran. Those who continue Castro's "legacy," led by Miguel Díaz-Canel, have become oligarchs worried about the disaster, poverty, and discontent among their subjects. Yet, despite securing their personal wealth, they realize the public treasury is a barren wasteland, incapable of ensuring basic needs or public services.
Dependence on Remittances
Sixty-six years after "reclaiming" sovereignty and expropriating businesses, from magnates to shoemakers, Cuba finds itself without a productive fabric, financial leverage, or the basic infrastructure to foster entrepreneurship or ensure foreign investment. What remains for the Cuban regime to exploit and secure a somewhat stable inflow of foreign currency? Remittances—those familial monetary transfers. They now seek to manipulate the division fostered by the old dictator, which exiled millions of Cubans, leading to diaspora, separation, and the drama of emigration.
From the arrogant "we don't want you, we don't need you," the regime's leadership now relies on continuity figures with a different "sensitivity." One such figure is Johana Tablada de la Torre, Deputy Director General of the United States Directorate at MINREX, who recently urged foreigners and the Cuban diaspora to come to the island for a "dip."
"Now that Marco Rubio and Claver-Carone are targeting remittances, travel, services, and businesses, now that they are obsessed with their failed dream of crippling Cuba, it's time for those who love this people to come and dive in. Traveling to Cuba is indeed helping Cubans, and it'll be fun to disappoint 'Narco Rubio' once again," Tablada de la Torre remarked on social media, which resemble a travel agency with all their talk of "fun," beaches, and tropical paradises.
The Echoes of Propaganda
So many lies and so much cynicism ultimately impoverish language, leaving a foul taste in the propaganda. The "continuity" has reached the lowest intellectual level for its domination project, and the "Cuban revolution" has equated its narrative to that of its epigones and puppets, like Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela.
While Tablada de la Torre invites people to counteract U.S. policies by taking a "dip" in Caribbean waters, the Venezuelan dictator welcomes emigrants deported by the United States, inviting them to "sing, dance, and party."
"That's why migrants know that upon returning to Venezuela, they regain many things: respect as human beings, but also their right to party with their family and friends. How much does a migrant suffer over there, in Chicago, in New York, when they see their friends partying here on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays while they're over there, you know, suffering," said Havana's puppet.
And he concluded, paraphrasing a Cuban saying, "yes, we want you, yes, we need you." More crude, but more direct than the continuity spokespersons at the foreign ministry.
Exploring Cuba and Venezuela's Recent Appeals
Why is the Cuban regime reaching out to emigrants now?
The Cuban regime is seeking support from emigrants due to its current economic crisis and lack of financial resources. With the collapse of previous geopolitical alliances and the absence of a productive economy, they are now relying on remittances sent by Cubans abroad.
What is Johana Tablada de la Torre's message to the Cuban diaspora?
Johana Tablada de la Torre has invited the Cuban diaspora to visit the island, suggesting that traveling to Cuba is a way to support its people. She frames this as a fun opportunity to counteract U.S. policies against Cuba.
How does the Venezuelan government appeal to its emigrants?
The Venezuelan government is inviting emigrants to return by emphasizing the social and cultural benefits of being in Venezuela, such as partying and spending time with family and friends, which they claim are missed when living abroad.