Feijóo's Vision for Bringing "Prosperity and Freedom" to Cuba if Elected in Spain

Alberto Núñez Feijóo, the head of Spain's Popular Party (PP), expressed on Tuesday that Spain shares a unique bond with Cuba. Should he become the nation's leader, he intends to collaborate with the United States to ensure that "prosperity and freedom reach Cuba out of respect for the Cuban people."

These remarks were made during an interview with OKDIARIO, led by its director, Eduardo Inda. The conversation centered around whether his second visit as head of government would be to Washington.

While Feijóo did not confirm this, he emphasized that the United States now has "two additional reasons" to strengthen ties with Spain: Venezuela and Cuba.

Acknowledging a "Debt" with Cuba and Venezuela

Feijóo directly attributed the tarnished international image of Spain, regarding these nations, to the administration of Pedro Sánchez. "Spain owes a debt to Venezuela and Cuba due to Sánchez's foreign policy over recent years, which has supported the regimes of Chávez and Maduro," Feijóo remarked, pointedly avoiding naming Cuba's leaders.

Under the socialist government, Spain in October 2025 approved a new restructuring of Cuba's debt amounting to 193.4 million euros, reinitiated a debt conversion program of up to 375 million euros, and opened a new consulate in Camagüey. In May 2026, the Supreme Court mandated the Ministry of Economy to disclose details of these agreements, overturning their confidentiality.

Aligning with Washington's Interests

Feijóo's stance on Cuba is part of a broader strategy to align more closely with the U.S. administration. Earlier this year, in February, he engaged with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, pledging that Spain would be "a reliable partner for our allies" and describing the exchange as "a fruitful conversation."

His statements on Tuesday reinforce this approach: Feijóo is keen on making Spain an active player in advocating for democratic transition on the Island, rather than being a negotiator that facilitates financial dealings with the regime.

Moreover, the PP has urged Spain to lead the European Union in suspending the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement with Cuba.

A Shift from Galician Ties to Democratic Demands

This current stance marks a departure from Feijóo's previous approach while leading Galicia. In May 2016, he visited Havana for the second time to chair the XI Council of Galician Communities Abroad, where he lauded the "unbreakable" connections between Galicia and Cuba and met with then Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez.

During that speech, he highlighted the relationship between Manuel Fraga and Fidel Castro—“a Galician from Manatí and another from Láncara”—as a symbol of Galicia's role as a "linking point" with the Island. At that time, around 30,000 Galicians were registered in Cuba, according to Xunta data.

Back then, the tone was one of cooperation and rapprochement, starkly contrasting with the democratic demands characterizing his discourse since assuming the PP presidency in 2022.

First Stop: Morocco, with Washington in View

In the same interview, Feijóo confirmed that his first official trip as president would be to Morocco, following a tradition set by Felipe González and continued by Aznar, Zapatero, and Rajoy, which Sánchez broke in 2018 by traveling first to Paris.

Regarding Venezuela, Feijóo had already taken a stand in January 2026, after Nicolás Maduro was captured by U.S. forces, stating that "the future is not Delcy" and endorsing Edmundo González and María Corina Machado as figures for democratic transition in the country.