Alain Espinosa, a lawyer with the human rights organization Cubalex, presented a revealing report to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) that challenges the Cuban regime's official narrative. According to the report, the growing militarization of civil life in Cuba is not a response to any external threat but is instead aimed directly at its own citizens.
Espinosa addressed the IACHR on August 4 during their 196th Session, focusing on "Cuba: Impacts of Militarization." In a subsequent interview with Tania Costa for CiberCuba, he elaborated on the methodology used to arrive at these conclusions.
"We aimed to establish a timeline of events to help the commissioners understand the correlation between this militarization and the external agents often cited by the regime," explained Espinosa.
The timeline, which documents 215 verifiable actions from February to July 24, 2026, presents a stark finding: even during periods when U.S. policies had no direct impact on Cuba, the militarization and repression continued to escalate.
"Our monthly timeline shows that even when U.S. actions were not directly impacting Cuba, the militarization and repression were on the rise," noted Espinosa.
The Cuban regime justifies its military deployment by citing "plans and measures for transitioning to a State of War," approved at the beginning of the year, claiming these are responses to a supposed U.S. invasion threat. Cubalex counters this narrative with factual evidence.
"The regime sells the world the idea that this militarization is in response to a supposed U.S. military offensive and that they have a right to defend themselves," stated Espinosa. "We demonstrated that the militarization is directly related to protests, to the people's expressions, not to a potential intervention."
Cubalex's director, Laritza Diversent, had already suggested this perspective in a July interview with CiberCuba, asserting that the militarization targets the local population rather than any external enemy.
Mechanisms of Repression Unveiled
The report to the IACHR also reveals specific mechanisms of repression. It indicates that the state's primary targets are not well-known opposition leaders but rather anonymous protest participants, aiming to intimidate the broader society. "It's what we call an exemplary effect, using certain individuals from protests as guinea pigs," Espinosa explained.
Another tactic exposed is the network of civilian informants tied to the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR) and similar government-aligned groups. Espinosa described these informants as "neighborhood snitches," tasked with identifying protest leaders for State Security.
The report also criticizes the use of drones for monitoring protests, contrasting this investment with the government's neglect of basic rights.
"The Cuban government shows a political willingness to restrict human rights, yet doesn't use these funds to fulfill its obligations, such as ensuring electricity, clean water, proper nutrition, and adequate healthcare," Espinosa highlighted.
Alarming Human Rights Violations
Quantitative data underscores the severity of the situation. Cubalex recorded 1,894 human rights violations in the first half of 2026, a 48% increase from the previous semester, averaging more than ten incidents daily. June saw a record 253 protests and 319 repressive events, while the July report—dubbed "red July" internally—documented 37 homicides and 168 violent acts, the highest since monitoring began.
Cubalex describes the situation as a "de facto state of exception," with the government implementing measures typical of an official state of emergency without formally declaring one, a practice deemed incompatible with international human rights standards.
Key Insights into Cuba's Militarization
What is the main focus of Cubalex's report to the IACHR?
The report focuses on demonstrating that the militarization of civil life in Cuba is directed against its own citizens rather than any external threat, such as the United States.
How does the Cuban regime justify its militarization?
The Cuban regime claims its militarization is a defensive measure against a supposed threat of U.S. invasion, a narrative that Cubalex refutes with factual data.
What methods of repression does Cubalex's report highlight?
The report highlights the targeting of anonymous protest participants, the use of civilian informants, and surveillance technologies like drones to suppress dissent.