David Ramírez Álvarez, the Second Secretary at the Cuban Embassy in the United States responsible for Cultural Affairs, took to X this Saturday with a bold statement. He declared that "no fuel or economic embargo will extinguish the Cuban people's resolve to thrive, advance, and continue to be a cultural powerhouse."
His post was accompanied by a ballet studio image and the hashtag #LetCubaBreathe, part of a Cuban diplomatic campaign advocating for the end of the U.S. embargo.
This claim starkly contrasts with the harsh reality on the island. Cuba's economy shrank by 5% in 2025, marking the third consecutive year of recession. Independent bodies forecast a further 7.2% decline in 2026, leading to a cumulative contraction of over 23% since 2019.
Power outages lasted up to 25 to 30 hours daily in 2025, impacting about 63% to 64% of the population, as ten out of the country's 16 thermoelectric plants were out of service by March 2026.
The diplomat's mention of enduring "even with the lights off" is not just a metaphor but a literal depiction of daily life for millions of Cubans.
However, the most striking contradiction lies in the rhetoric about the "will to prosper." The very regime Ramírez represents imposes the greatest hurdles to that ambition. In 2025, the government conducted over 1,100 inspections of small and medium-sized private enterprises, resulting in hundreds of permanent closures, mass confiscations, and hefty fines. Access to foreign currency, licenses, and imports is contingent on political allegiances and client networks.
While the diplomat speaks of prosperity, Cuba ended 2025 with a record 1,197 political prisoners, a figure that rose to 1,214 by February 2026, according to Prisoners Defenders. Among them are dissidents, entrepreneurs, and July 11, 2021, protesters. At least 46 individuals have died in Cuban prisons from 2025 to the present due to denied medical care.
The regime announced a pardon for over 2,000 inmates on April 3, excluding those charged with sedition, contempt, and public disorder—charges commonly used against political prisoners.
Amnesty International has criticized the Cuban government's approach as a strategy to "intimidate, isolate, and silence those who demand respect" for human rights.
The official narrative blames the U.S. embargo for the crisis, yet the facts reveal a different story: the U.S. exported $585 million worth of goods to Cuba in 2024, a 16% increase from the previous year, including medical supplies and food. The true roots of the crisis—centralized economic model, state inefficiency, and private sector repression—are internal and have persisted for 67 years.
The most telling response from the Cuban people to this supposed "will to prosper" is their mass exodus: over a million have left the island since 2021, reducing the population from an estimated 11.3 million to between 8.6 and 8.8 million, marking the most significant diaspora in recent Cuban history.
Cuba's Economic Challenges and Political Climate
What are the main reasons for Cuba's economic decline?
Cuba's economic decline is primarily due to its centralized economic model, state inefficiency, and repression of the private sector, compounded by the U.S. embargo.
How is the Cuban government responding to the economic crisis?
The Cuban government has conducted extensive inspections and closures of private businesses and has not effectively addressed the structural issues causing the economic decline.
What is the impact of the U.S. embargo on Cuba?
While the U.S. embargo contributes to economic hardships, Cuba's internal policies and inefficiencies play a more significant role in the country's economic struggles.