Growing discontent as Cuba Defendsโ Maduro, Faces Backlash from Bothโ Venezuelansโข and Cubans
A recent statement byโ Cuban Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carlos Fernรกndez de Cossรญo, warning of potential “military and terroristโค aggression” โagainst Venezuela โฃand framing it as a US-backed coup attempt, has backfired spectacularly, igniting a wave of criticism from citizens in bothโ Venezuela and Cuba.
Cossรญo’s post on X (formerly Twitter) echoed havana’s long-standing narrative โof defending regional sovereignty against perceived imperialist interference.He characterized any โattempt to โคoverthrow the government of Nicolรกs Maduro asโค a “barbaric act”โข and a threat to Latin american independence. However, instead of rallying support, the statement triggered an outpouring of frustration and resentment directed at bothโข the Cuban regime and its decades-long alliance โขwith Chavismo.
venezuelan responses were particularly scathing. Manyโฃ accused Havana of prioritizing its own survivalโ over โคthe well-being of the Venezuelan people,โข suggesting the concern wasn’t about defending aโ nation, โbut securing continued access to Venezuelan oil. โ “Do you live in Venezuela?” one woman challengedโ the Cuban official, “If not, youโฃ have no idea about theโ needs of ordinary Venezuelans.” Others wereโ more blunt, labeling โCuban officials as “leeches” worried about theโฃ potentialโข end of a system sustained by Venezuelan resources. โAโ common sentimentโ was โฃthat Cuba had benefited from the andean nation’s crisisโ for 27 years, drainingโฃ its wealth while its citizens suffered. one user succinctly put it: โข”What you are crying about is thatโฃ your gravy train could runโฃ out.”
The backlashโข wasn’t limited to Venezuela.Cuban citizens also joined the chorus of criticism,expressing growing fatigue with their government’s foreign policy and itsโฃ economic dependence on Venezuelan support. Sarcastic comments likeโ “Go pack your bags” โand “Save your tears” were widespread. More pointedly,โข many Cubans expressed fear of losing the economic lifeline provided by Maduro’s regime, with some warning that neither Russia nor China would be able to compensate for the loss. One user even โขjoked darkly about the lack of โremedies for the fallout should Chavismo fall.
The โincident highlights the waning effectiveness of Cuba’s traditional anti-imperialist rhetoric. While the government continues to frame external threats as justification for its alliances, the overwhelming response โfrom both Venezuelan and Cuban citizens demonstrates a growing disconnect between official narratives and lived realities.
Cossรญo’s message aimed to reinforce the idea of a united Latin American front resisting external pressure. โขHowever, the reactionsโฃ suggest a โdifferent truth: Havana’s primary concern isn’t regional peace, butโค the potentialโฃ collapse of a crucial economic pillar supporting its own regime. This time, โthe familiar story of the “external enemy” failed to resonate, revealing a deep well ofโ discontent on both sides of the relationship.
