Cuban social media is relentless, and once again, Miguel Díaz-Canel finds himself at the center of digital mockery.
The meme of the moment—crafted by satirical page Ma Chete—depicts the appointed leader fervently denying any dialogues with the United States.
"We are not having talks with the USA," Díaz-Canel asserts with a tense expression, while on the opposite side, a unique assembly looks on. "Oh, I see," responds President Donald Trump, flanked by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the U.S. ambassador to Havana, Mike Hammer.
Interestingly, standing with President Trump are the nonagenarian General Raúl Castro and his bodyguard grandson, Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, also known as "El Cangrejo," who observe Díaz-Canel with amused expressions.
In a subsequent panel, the designated leader appears upset or tearful as the group turns away, conversing amongst themselves. "Where were we?" El Cangrejo inquires, as if Díaz-Canel's fiery discourse was merely a minor interruption.
The joke is evident: while the "puppet" of Castroism solemnly claims "no talks with the U.S." are occurring, on the other side of the illustration, the true influencers of Cuban and U.S. politics seem to be negotiating independently, ready to "discard" the figurehead if necessary.
Beneath the ridicule lies a more realistic scenario, as some observers suggest: potential discreet contacts between Washington and actual power figures in Cuba, bypassing Díaz-Canel himself.
This wouldn't be without precedent; following Nicolás Maduro's arrest, several media outlets and analysts noted that the U.S. military operation had partially been arranged with Jorge and Delcy Rodríguez to ease Venezuela's transition.
In this context, it's plausible that a similar strategy might be unfolding in Havana, with the old Castro machinery exploring a negotiated exit, possibly sacrificing a "scapegoat" before a more abrupt conclusion.
The post, captioned "He still doesn't get it," quickly went viral among users mocking the Cuban leader's lack of genuine authority.
"This Díaz-Counted is likely to be the scapegoat, to begin with," one user remarked; another joked, "Looks like 'Limonardo and Machi' are headed to New York with Maduro."
The publication played on a growing perception: that critical decisions about the island are being made far from his desk.
Indeed, following Trump's statements claiming "talks with Cuba are happening," and the subsequent denial from the palace resident, the entire country seems to have reached the same conclusion as Ma Chete: if conversations are occurring, the scapegoat probably wasn't invited.
Potential Cuba-US Relations and Internal Dynamics
What does the meme suggest about Díaz-Canel's role in Cuba-US relations?
The meme implies that Díaz-Canel may not be involved in potential negotiations between Cuba and the United States, highlighting his lack of real power and influence.
Could there be secret negotiations between Cuba and the United States?
Observers suggest that discreet contacts might be occurring between Washington and influential figures in Cuba, excluding Díaz-Canel from the dialogue.
What historical precedent supports the idea of secret negotiations?
Following Nicolás Maduro's arrest, it was suggested that the U.S. military operation was partly coordinated with Venezuelan figures to facilitate a transition, serving as a possible precedent for similar tactics in Cuba.