On Wednesday, Miguel Díaz-Canel reacted to a message from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed to the Cuban people on the 124th anniversary of the Republic of Cuba's proclamation, a date celebrated by the Cuban exile community as Independence Day.
In a post on social media platform X, Díaz-Canel, who serves as both the head of state and the first secretary of the Communist Party, dismissed May 20 as a symbol of "intervention, interference, dispossession, and frustration" in Cuba's history, rejecting the interpretation of this date by Washington and the Cuban exile community.
Installed by Raúl Castro, Díaz-Canel emphasized what he sees as the day’s sole value: instilling an anti-imperialist sentiment in Cubans of that era, a sentiment he claims has deepened with each subsequent generation due to ongoing threats to the nation’s independence and sovereignty.
Labeling those who, in his view, "cry out for the return of a tutelary republic" as "paid servants of dishonor," Díaz-Canel referenced the period of U.S. oversight under the Platt Amendment, which was in effect from 1901 to 1934.
He concluded his message with a warning: "Do not underestimate them, but never forget that thanks to the empire itself, we anti-imperialists are far more numerous."
The message to which Díaz-Canel responded was Rubio's first direct address to the Cuban people in Spanish since his appointment as Secretary of State. Rubio chose this particular date, which the Cuban regime removed from the official calendar post-1959, to deliver his message.
In his statement, Rubio declared that "Cuba is not controlled by any 'revolution.' Cuba is controlled by GAESA," referring to the military-business conglomerate created under Raúl Castro. He accused GAESA of embezzling billions of dollars and causing the shortages of electricity, fuel, and food that plague the Cuban populace.
Rubio extended an offer to the Cuban people for a "new relationship" with the United States, proposing $100 million in food and medicine aid, provided these are distributed by the Catholic Church or trusted organizations, without Cuban government intervention.
Díaz-Canel was not the only official to respond. Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío also accused Rubio of "repeatedly lying" about Cuba in a statement released on the same day.
This exchange occurs amid heightened tensions that have escalated since early May. On May 8, Rubio announced direct sanctions against GAESA, describing them as part of an "economic war" against the regime. On May 12, the State Department formally extended the $100 million aid offer.
Initially rejecting the offer, the Cuban regime has since shown conditional openness. On May 14, Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla expressed willingness to "listen" to the details of the proposal, and Díaz-Canel himself noted that Cuba would face "no obstacles or ingratitude" if aid is provided under internationally recognized humanitarian conditions.
While the regime continues its anti-imperialist rhetoric, the Cuban exile community in Miami marks the 124th anniversary of the Republic with civic, religious, and legal events at the Freedom Tower, the Brigade 2506 Museum, and the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity.
Key Insights and Reactions to U.S.-Cuba Relations
What was the significance of Rubio's message to Cubans on May 20?
Rubio's message, delivered in Spanish for the first time since he became Secretary of State, aimed to offer a new relationship with the U.S., highlighting the control of GAESA over Cuba and offering aid under specific conditions.
How did Díaz-Canel respond to Rubio's message?
Díaz-Canel criticized Rubio's message as an attempt to undermine Cuban sovereignty, dismissing the significance of May 20 and labeling pro-U.S. advocates as "paid servants of dishonor."
What does GAESA represent in the context of U.S.-Cuba relations?
GAESA is a military-business conglomerate accused by Rubio of misusing funds and contributing to the resource shortages experienced by Cubans, symbolizing the regime's economic control.