Miguel Díaz-Canel Urges U.S. to Release Maduro and Cilia Flores Immediately

The head of the Cuban regime, Miguel Díaz-Canel, has demanded that the United States release Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, "without delay."

"Our Revolutionary Government strongly condemns the U.S. military aggression against Venezuela. We categorically reaffirm Cuba's unwavering support and solidarity with the Bolivarian Republic and its government," Díaz-Canel stated on social media platform X, where he shared a statement from the regime's foreign ministry.

"We demand the immediate release of President Nicolás Maduro Moros and comrade Cilia Flores by U.S. authorities," he added emphatically.

The Cuban leader urged the international community to "ensure that such a grave and unlawful attack against a UN Member State does not go unpunished, and that the legitimate president of a sovereign nation is not abducted in a military operation without facing consequences."

According to the MINREX statement, the situation is described as a "blatant imperialist and fascist aggression with the aim of domination."

Furthermore, Díaz-Canel accused the U.S. of trying to revive its imperial ambitions in Latin America, rooted in the Monroe Doctrine, with the goal of gaining unrestricted access and control over the natural resources of Venezuela and the region. He claimed it also seeks to intimidate and subjugate Latin American and Caribbean governments.

Earlier on Saturday, Díaz-Canel led an event at Havana's Anti-imperialist Platform, delivering a fervent speech in defense of Maduro's regime.

Hastily organized by the Cuban government, the gathering included Communist Party members, students, and workers mobilized by official organizations. The event was framed by the regime as a revolutionary show of solidarity following the capture of the Chavista leader.

In an emotionally charged address, Díaz-Canel denounced the U.S. incursion as an act of "state terrorism," describing it as "cowardly, criminal, and treacherous," resulting in the "abduction" of a Latin American president.

His speech, infused with rhetoric reminiscent of Fidel Castro and José Martí, accused Washington of seeking to "impose neofascism worldwide" under the aegis of Donald Trump.

"The land of Bolívar is sacred, and an attack on its people is an attack on all the dignified sons of Our America," Díaz-Canel declared, as the crowd responded with chants of "Homeland or death!"

In a combative tone, the Cuban leader vowed that Cuba "will not abandon Venezuela." He assured that both he and the Cuban people are ready to "shed their own blood and even give their lives" to defend their South American ally, albeit "at a very high cost," he warned.

Maduro's Arrival in the U.S.

Nicolás Maduro arrived in the state of New York this Saturday aboard a U.S. Air Force plane that landed at Stewart Air National Guard Base at 4:32 pm local time, after taking off from Guantánamo.

The Boeing 757 flight from Guantánamo landed just northwest of New York City.

The aircraft's departure was marked by a significant presence of FBI, DEA, and National Guard forces, as seen in video footage aired on Fox News. The plane's descent was slow and involved dozens of federal agents.

According to CNN, Maduro, who was aboard the USS Iwo Jima, had made a brief stopover in Guantánamo as part of a logistical plan to expedite his transfer to New York.

Previously, Donald Trump had released images of Maduro shackled and blindfolded on the USS Iwo Jima, asserting that the Venezuelan leader was being transported "to face charges."

Regarding the legal proceedings, Maduro is expected to face charges related to drug and arms trafficking in a federal court in Manhattan next week.