Wave of solidarity with Cuba gains strength in Brazil

The new offensive by the United States against Cuba, formalized by an executive order from President Donald Trump that classified the island as a “national emergency”, provoked an immediate reaction from Brazilian entities. Amid the deepening of the economic blockade and the energy bottleneck, trade unions, political parties, popular movements and student organizations intensified solidarity campaigns and began to pressure the Brazilian government for concrete humanitarian support measures.

The White House’s decision imposes new tariffs on countries that supply oil to Cuba, worsening shortages of fuel, food and medicine. The scenario gained new contours after US attacks on Venezuela, increasing the fear of regional isolation. For the movements, this is another chapter in the policy of suffocation against the Cuban people.

Centers and youth organize collections

In a publication made on its official profiles, the Central dos Trabalhadores do Brasil (CTB) called on its bases to strengthen the support campaign and reaffirmed: “all solidarity with Cuba! Down with the criminal blockade of US imperialism!” The entity argues that the blockade, maintained for decades, compromises the population’s access to basic items, especially in the area of ​​health, and defends the reinforcement of internationalist solidarity.

In the same vein, the Socialist Youth Union (UJS) launched a campaign to raise R$10,000 by February 25, focusing on sending medicines and medical supplies. The organization denounces that US policy seeks to “stifle the Cuban government” and impose suffering on the people of the island, reaffirming the duty of active solidarity in the face of the rise of the extreme right.

The student movement also joins the mobilization. The National Union of Students (UNE), together with the Brazilian Union of Secondary Students (Ubes) and the National Association of Postgraduate Students (ANPG), highlighted the urgency of humanitarian aid: “Every minute counts: Cuba needs our solidarity now.”

Manifesto demands action from the Brazilian government

Organizations such as Frente Brasil Popular, Povo Sem Medo and Alba Movimentos released a joint statement advocating the construction of a broad international network of support for the island.

“We call on the Brazilian people and, in a special way, the government of Brazil to join in a collective effort to urgently support Cuba. We make a special call to the government so that President Lula, recognized for his leadership in the fight against hunger, for peace and cooperation between peoples, takes an active role in this initiative, joining the example of the Mexican government, led by Cláudia Sheinbaum, for the urgent shipment of oil and other energy sources to Cuba”, says the text.

The example cited is Mexico, governed by Claudia Sheinbaum, who has already sent energy support to the island.

Humanitarian crisis and diplomatic tension

According to Judite Santos, national coordinator of the Landless Rural Workers Movement (MST) in Cuba, the moment is “extremely urgent”. “Cuba is going through a very difficult time of tensions and concerns due to the resurgence of the blockade that puts the country at risk. We saw it from the Cuban president’s statement last week, and we are also following the drastic measures that are being taken due to the scarcity of both fuel and food and medicine,” he told the BdF.

She mentions the position of Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, who reacted to Washington’s rhetoric. “Now, the one who is constantly talking about aggression and, above all, the one who has raised insulting rhetoric about possible aggression against Cuba, is the US government at this moment,” he said.

Judite also warned about the interruption of face-to-face classes and the interruption of transport due to the lack of energy and fuel. “The US has been escalating threats every day, so military action against Cuba is not ruled out, although the Cuban government has repeatedly said that it is open to dialogue with the US. We need to be alert to what could happen at this serious moment of escalation of imperialist aggression. Therefore, all Brazilian sectors that have always been in solidarity with Cuba need to unify efforts to pressure the Brazilian government to break the blockade and send supplies to the Cuban people. It is a humanitarian issue”, he concluded.

In Brazil, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has reiterated solidarity with the island, but has not yet announced official government support measures. “Our country is sovereign. We want to work with everyone, but we do not want to be colonized again. Our country is in solidarity with the Cuban people who are victims of a massacre of US speculation against them. We have to find, as a party, a way to help”, declared Lula last Saturday (7).

Faced with the worsening of the crisis, the entities argue that solidarity cannot be limited to declarations. For popular movements and progressive organizations, breaking the economic siege and guaranteeing concrete aid to Cuba has become an urgent political and humanitarian task.

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with agencies