Last night, around eleven, I reached out to a contact within a Ministry of the Interior unit in western Cuba. What this source shared was both shocking and emblematic of a regime steeped in hypocrisy and immorality.
According to my source, leaders within the unit suggested that the earthquake in Venezuela provided them with another reprieve, much like the U.S. and Israel’s conflict with Iran did before. The reasoning is harsh: the Venezuelan tragedy could potentially delay the democratic transition in the country and defer any possible U.S. intervention against the Castro-communist dictatorship.
While I lack concrete evidence to declare this as the official stance of the higher-ups, I cannot entirely dismiss it. Those familiar with the system understand that its logic has always been to exploit others' suffering, certain “noble causes,” and international solidarity as propaganda tools to maintain its grip on power.
The Illusion of Brotherhood
The so-called "deep," "sincere," "selfless," and "eternal" friendship between Fidel Castro and Hugo Chávez had a less romantic side from the start. Even as they espoused brotherhood among nations, solidarity, and revolutionary unity, numerous Cuban doctors have recounted a system of pressure to inflate consultations, hospital admissions, treatments, and healthcare statistics.
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has documented complaints from healthcare workers forced to meet quotas tied to the economic goals of these missions. When there weren't enough patients, some reported having to fabricate them; when the required numbers of admissions or procedures weren't met, records were manipulated. Essentially, an illusion of superior medical activity was crafted.
Burden on Healthcare Workers
It would be unjust to blame the doctors who endured these pressures. Many were victims of a repressive apparatus that could penalize them, send them back to Cuba, impact their families, or take away the few material opportunities they found outside Cuba. The blame lies with the mission chiefs, political supervisors, and state structures that turned medicine into a propaganda and business tool.
The strategy was straightforward: the more consultations, admissions, medications, and procedures reported, the greater the "success" of the Cuban mission in Venezuela appeared. This illusion justified the massive presence of Cuban personnel—including many intelligence agents—the cooperation agreements, the sale of services, and the substantial benefits Havana received, all primarily supported by Venezuelan oil.
A Disturbing Strategy Amidst Disaster
It's disturbing that in the midst of a human tragedy like Venezuela's, elements within Cuba's repressive structures view the earthquake as a strategic opportunity. As Venezuelan families search for missing loved ones, bury their dead, and lose their homes, Cuban officials might be calculating how much extra time their dictatorship gains.
This wouldn't be the first time the Cuban regime sacrifices its declared "principles" for its survival. In 1968, Fidel Castro acknowledged that the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia violated national sovereignty but justified it because, in his view, the socialist bloc had the right to prevent a country from leaving its orbit. He also supported the invasion of Afghanistan while chairing the Non-Aligned Movement.
The lesson is clear: for the Castro regime, sovereignty is sacred when it protects their dictatorship; when it hinders their allies or interests, it is relativized, reinterpreted, or crushed.
Their campaigns for "oppressed" peoples, speeches against "imperialism," and calls for solidarity have deceived many and still retain followers. Stalin, Hitler, and especially Mao Zedong, the greatest criminals of contemporary history, also have their supporters. As Ecclesiastes says, "There is nothing new under the sun."
While the United States—the world's most generous nation—El Salvador, Argentina, and other countries, often maligned by Castro-Chavista propaganda, send rescue teams and humanitarian aid to Venezuela, the Castros and Díaz-Canel calculate how to benefit from the tragedy. And most disturbingly, too often, they end up profiting abundantly from the suffering of others.
Understanding Cuba's Political Exploitation
How does the Cuban regime exploit international tragedies?
The Cuban regime often views international tragedies as opportunities to delay democratic transitions in allied nations or to avert potential foreign interventions against its rule. It uses these events as propaganda to maintain its power.
What role do Cuban healthcare missions play in Venezuela?
Cuban healthcare missions in Venezuela have been accused of inflating medical statistics to portray a false image of success. This strategy helps justify the presence of Cuban personnel and secures economic and political benefits for Cuba, mainly supported by Venezuelan oil.