A statement shared on Facebook by host Laritza Camacho succinctly captures the propaganda strategy that the Cuban regime has honed over more than six decades: "If something fails, it's the embargo's fault; if it succeeds, it’s a triumph of the revolution."
This binary logic is no rhetorical accident but a deliberate political tool that shifts internal responsibility and shields the leadership from any accountability for the failures of the centralized socialist model.
The pattern unfolds with a regularity that no longer surprises anyone on the island. When power outages stretch up to 20 hours daily, when shelves remain empty, or when the healthcare system collapses, the official explanation invariably points to the U.S. embargo.
Conversely, when there is a positive indicator to showcase—historically low infant mortality rates, literacy campaigns, or international medical missions—the credit falls on the Revolution and socialism.
Bruno Rodríguez, the Foreign Minister, provided the latest example of this dynamic on September 7, when he stated before international media that there were no negotiations with Washington, labeling the embargo as "genocidal" and estimating its economic damage at $8.1 billion between March 2025 and February 2026.
The government also claimed that 7,000 containers with food, medicines, and medical devices remained held in foreign ports due to U.S. pressure, a figure that has not been independently verified.
What the official narrative omits is equally telling. In March of this year, Miguel Díaz-Canel himself acknowledged that Cuba had stopped generating 1,100 MW due to a lack of fuel and that the country needed eight fuel ships a month, while only one had arrived between January and April.
In those same internal statements, he admitted that the National Electric System is obsolete, with thermoelectric plants at the end of their useful life and lacking proper maintenance.
The contradiction extends to the health sector. In June, a Cuban diplomat at the UN spoke of "achievements in health," while independent media documented a deep health crisis on the island. Just two months later, Díaz-Canel admitted the "magnitude of the health disaster" in Cuba, openly contradicting the triumphant narrative his government projects externally.
The start of the 2026-2027 school year was presented as proof of institutional normalcy, with over 1.5 million students, while the state budget allocates 64% of public spending to health, education, and social assistance—a figure the regime touts as a propaganda tool rather than a guarantee of real quality.
The "double standard" transcends the embargo-revolution dichotomy. The regime celebrates protests and cacerolazos abroad as legitimate expressions of popular discontent but harshly represses the same demonstrations within Cuba. It applies different criteria to state-run and independent media, to officials and ordinary citizens.
Even voices tolerated by the system have begun questioning the narrative. Comedian Ulises Toirac criticized the official triumphalism in May, and economist Ulises Aquino pointed out in August that the regime "doesn't know what it knows" about the economy, questioning the leadership's competence in managing the crisis.
Camacho's statement is not just a clever critique: it is an exact portrait of a system that has spent 67 years perfecting the art of avoiding any responsibility.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cuba's Political Narrative
What is the Cuban regime's typical explanation for its failures?
The Cuban regime typically attributes its failures to the U.S. embargo, using it as a convenient scapegoat for internal issues.
How does the Cuban government portray its successes?
The Cuban government credits its successes to the Revolution and its socialist policies, highlighting achievements like low infant mortality rates and educational campaigns.
Are there independent verifications of the regime's claims about external pressures?
No, claims about external pressures, such as the number of containers held in foreign ports, have not been independently verified.