The Cuban government's military theatrics, especially amid escalating tensions with the Trump Administration, continue to become fodder for internet memes.
The latest spectacle fueling this trend involves teams of oxen hauling metal blocks intended for roadblocks. This astonishing scene unfolded in the municipality of Taguasco, which hosted the major maneuvers for the National Defense Day this past Saturday. These drills included command structure activations and tactical exercises using weapons and explosives, as reported by Canal Caribe.
Mockery on Social Media
This is far from the first instance of the Cuban regime's military exercises being ridiculed. Social media recently erupted with sarcastic remarks following the release of photos and videos from the so-called “Combat Readiness Competition” organized by the Western Army in the context of the National Defense Day.
Ironically, these scenes, shared by the regime’s official channels, depicted young participants training with outdated weaponry, engaging in military drills that many viewers perceived as more theatrical than genuinely preparatory for warfare.
Other images showed youths wielding old rifles, devoid of protective gear, conducting simulations under a blazing sun with minimal resources. Many online commentators have pointed out that the supposed “doctrine of the war of the entire people” has devolved into nothing more than internal propaganda, disconnected from modern military realities.
For decades, the Cuban regime has promoted the “war of the entire people” as a defensive strategy, relying on mass civilian mobilization against a hypothetical foreign invasion.
However, in a nation plagued by poverty, frequent power outages, hunger, and increasing military desertion, these weekend exercises appear more like a relic of the past than a plausible military strategy. While the government attempts to project unity between the citizens and the Armed Forces, the propaganda images evoke the opposite effect: a mix of pity, outrage, and laughter at the spectacle of a nation crumbling yet still marching to the beat of hollow slogans.
Understanding Cuba's Military Exercises
What is the "war of the entire people" doctrine?
The "war of the entire people" is a defensive strategy promoted by the Cuban regime that involves the mass mobilization of civilians to counter a potential foreign invasion.
Why are Cuba's military exercises criticized?
Cuba's military exercises are often criticized for being outdated and more theatrical than practical, highlighting the disconnect between the regime's propaganda and contemporary military needs.