Cuba's Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, took to social media platform X this past Sunday to share a quote from Raúl Castro, suggesting a method for overcoming the country's "difficulties" without directly addressing the economic and social collapse caused by 67 years of communist dictatorship.
According to the regime's foreign minister, the Cuban people should fight "with the same resolve as Baraguá, Moncada, Granma, and Girón" to overcome these challenges. His post, which included the hashtag #RaúlEsRaúl, strikingly encapsulates the stagnant state of Cuban regime propaganda as of 2026.
Rodríguez Parrilla quoted the former dictator verbatim: "History has thoroughly taught us where resignation and defeatism lead. Let's not just resist."
He added, "We will overcome these difficulties as we always have, by fighting! With the same resolve as Baraguá, Moncada, Granma, and Girón, and with the unwavering convictions instilled by our Commander in Chief."
This message comes at an unprecedented economic low for the island, with Cubans more frustrated than ever by propaganda demanding "creative resistance," heroism, or historicizing the outdated battles of the Castro regime.
Current Economic Crisis Deepens
Cuba's national economy is in shambles, with the GDP dropping by approximately 5% in 2025 and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (CEPAL) forecasting a contraction of up to -10.3% for 2026. Annual inflation soared to nearly 25% in August.
Eight out of ten Cubans are skipping meals due to shortages, the electrical system is on the verge of collapse, and the United Nations warned that power outages threaten the vaccination of 70,000 children. In September, Foreign Affairs magazine highlighted that Cuba is approaching a "point of no return."
Historical Battles as Solutions
In the face of such dire circumstances, the regime's solution is to recycle episodes from its revolutionary mythology: Baraguá—the 1878 protest by Antonio Maceo against a peace without full independence—the Moncada attack in 1953, the Granma landing in 1956, and the defeat of the Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961.
These four historical events, long woven into the regime's narrative, serve as proof for Havana that the so-called "revolution" and its successors never accept defeat, regardless of the people's suffering.
This is not the first time Rodríguez Parrilla has leaned on this playbook.
In late September, he celebrated the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution from New York while Cuba teetered on the brink of collapse. Weeks earlier, he resurrected another Raúl Castro quote, without noting its original date or context, declaring that "the Revolution dignified Cuba and Cubans."
On September 4, the foreign minister himself admitted that Cuba has been in its current situation for "too long" without offering any explanation of who is responsible.
External Pressures and Internal Collapse
The external context worsens the message's irrelevance. The Trump administration imposed over 240 sanctions on Cuba in 2026.
On September 22, Trump labeled Cuba a "failed state" at the United Nations General Assembly and warned, "Cuba will fall, freedom will come."
Four days later, he ruled out immediate military action but left the option open, amid reports of U.S. military assessments to bolster the Southern Command.
Faced with unprecedented pressure and an internal collapse that can no longer be hidden, the regime's official response is to invoke Raúl Castro, call upon the spirit of Baraguá, and urge Cubans to fight. However, they fail to specify against whom or with what resources.
Understanding Cuba's Economic and Political Crisis
What are the main causes of Cuba's current economic crisis?
Cuba's economic crisis is primarily caused by decades of communist dictatorship, inefficient government policies, and U.S. sanctions. The regime's failure to adapt to global economic changes has also played a significant role.
How is the Cuban government responding to the crisis?
The Cuban government is responding by invoking historical revolutionary battles and urging citizens to fight with the same spirit, despite not providing concrete solutions to the current economic challenges.
What impact have U.S. sanctions had on Cuba?
U.S. sanctions have intensified Cuba's economic difficulties by restricting access to foreign investment and limiting the country's ability to engage in international trade, further exacerbating the crisis.