On Tuesday, the Cuban regime launched an attack against Mike Hammer, the head of the U.S. Embassy in Havana, accusing him of "weaving an anti-Cuban agenda." In an article published by the government-backed outlet, Razones de Cuba, titled "Weaving the Anti-Cuban Web: Hammer's Agenda," Havana's leadership reiterated its narrative that any diplomatic engagement by Washington with dissident groups equates to a destabilization conspiracy.
The piece emerged following several meetings between the diplomat and opposition leaders, alleging that Hammer is acting as an "agent of destabilization" with a focus on empowering Cuba's internal opposition. According to the pro-Castro media, Hammer's arrival in Havana signifies a revival of the United States' "aggressive policy" towards Cuba, despite the fact that the diplomat has merely met with representatives from various Cuban societal sectors, including religious leaders and civil society groups.
What seems to have particularly irked the regime is Hammer's initial official meeting with Petr Kavan, the Czech Republic's ambassador to Cuba. The Cuban government has accused Kavan of having previously supported Cuban activists advocating for democracy and human rights.
The official piece also attempts to link U.S. diplomacy to alleged "conspiracy" strategies orchestrated by the European Union and other international bodies. Furthermore, it criticizes the work of Radio and TV Martí, labeling them as "propaganda tools funded by the U.S. government." The article conveniently overlooks the role of these media outlets in providing an alternative narrative to the one tightly controlled by the Cuban regime, which continues to suppress free press in the country.
The regime also condemns Hammer's outreach to religious groups, a strategy the Cuban government claims is an attempt to use religion as a "Trojan horse" to sway public opinion. This reaction underscores the regime's discomfort with any form of dialogue it doesn't dominate.
For the opposition, the continuous narrative of "foreign intervention" serves as an overused tactic to justify repression against dissent and divert attention from the island's economic crisis, social discontent, and lack of freedoms.
U.S. Diplomacy and Its Impact on Cuba
What accusations has the Cuban regime made against Mike Hammer?
The Cuban regime has accused Mike Hammer of promoting an anti-Cuban agenda and acting as an agent of destabilization by strengthening the opposition within the island.
Why is Mike Hammer's meeting with the Czech ambassador controversial?
The Cuban government is upset about Hammer's meeting with the Czech ambassador, Petr Kavan, because they accuse Kavan of previously supporting Cuban activists who advocate for democracy and human rights.
How does the Cuban government view U.S. media outlets like Radio and TV Martí?
The Cuban government views Radio and TV Martí as propaganda tools funded by the U.S. government, despite these outlets providing alternative information to the regime's controlled narrative.