This Saturday, the Cuban regime held the International Meeting of Solidarity with Cuba and Anti-Imperialism "100 Years with Fidel" in Havana. Nearly 800 delegates from 152 organizations across 36 countries attended, rallying under the theme "Cuba Stands United" amidst an unprecedented escalation of tensions with Washington.
President Miguel Díaz-Canel led the event, which took place just hours before the May Day gathering. This year's parade was moved to the José Martí Anti-Imperialist Tribune—situated opposite the U.S. Embassy along the Havana Malecón—under the motto "Defend the Homeland."
Joining Díaz-Canel for the May Day event was Raúl Castro, who made his first public appearance since December 2025. Their presence marked a significant moment in the regime's defiance against U.S. pressure.
Heightened U.S. Sanctions and Threats
The solidarity meeting occurred amid intense U.S. pressure. On Saturday, Trump signed a new executive order expanding sanctions on Cuba, targeting assets connected to energy, defense, mining, and financial services while imposing secondary sanctions on foreign banks engaging with the Cuban government.
During a private dinner at the Forum Club in West Palm Beach the previous day, Trump threatened to deploy the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier near Cuban shores to coerce the regime's surrender, asserting that the U.S. would "take Cuba almost immediately" after completing operations in Iran.
In response, Díaz-Canel issued a defiant statement, declaring, "No aggressor, no matter how powerful, will find surrender in Cuba," and insisted any attacker would "face a people determined to defend their sovereignty and independence on every inch of national territory."
Regime's Tactics and Public Mobilization
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez condemned Trump's new sanctions as a "collective punishment on the Cuban people," labeling them "illegal and abusive."
The regime utilized the May Day event to showcase 6,230,973 signatures from the "My Signature for the Homeland" campaign as evidence of widespread public support. These signatures were symbolically handed to Raúl Castro and Díaz-Canel.
Critics and opposition figures argue that such a number is implausible without mass coercion, as it purportedly represents over 56% of Cuba's total population, including children and the elderly.
On the eve of the parade, children were reportedly taken from schools in San Miguel del Padrón and Santiago de Cuba to participate in preliminary marches, and independent journalist Ángel Cuza was arrested in front of his daughter by State Security agents.
Preparing for Defense Amidst Economic Hardship
The Cuban regime has declared 2026 as the "Year of Preparation for Defense." In April, Díaz-Canel had already called on the populace to brace for combat, invoking the doctrine of "war of all the people." In an interview with Newsweek, he warned, "If military aggression occurs, we will counterattack, fight, and defend ourselves."
Since the start of Trump's second term, the administration has implemented over 240 sanctions against Cuba. These measures have slashed Cuban oil imports by 80% to 90%, leading to power outages lasting up to 25 hours a day in more than 55% of the territory, with a direct and devastating effect on the civilian population.
Understanding U.S.-Cuban Tensions
How has the U.S. increased pressure on Cuba recently?
The U.S. has ramped up pressure by expanding sanctions targeting Cuban assets related to energy, defense, mining, and financial services, and by imposing secondary sanctions on foreign banks doing business with Cuba.
What was the response of the Cuban regime to the U.S. threats?
The Cuban regime responded defiantly, with President Díaz-Canel stating that no aggressor would find surrender in Cuba and asserting that any attack would encounter a determined populace ready to defend their sovereignty.
What is the significance of the "My Signature for the Homeland" campaign?
The campaign aimed to demonstrate popular support for the regime, presenting over six million signatures as evidence. However, critics argue that this number is unlikely without significant coercion, given the demographics of the Cuban population.