Ana Prestes: Cuba lives “war without bombs” imposed by the USA

The Secretary of International Relations of the PCdoB, Ana Prestes, returned to Brazil after joining the Our America Caravan to Cuba, held between March 18th and 22nd. The mission, called “Conboio Nuestra América”, brought together more than 600 people from 33 countries and 120 organizations, with the aim of providing direct solidarity with the Cuban people and delivering humanitarian aid. In her testimony, Ana Prestes described a reality of suffering imposed by the US blockade, but also of unshakable resistance.

Imperialist siege in a new phase

According to Ana Prestes, the situation in Cuba was worsened by the lack of fuel and the instability of the electrical system, generating chain effects: difficulties in distributing food and medicine, precarious functioning of hospitals, irregular garbage collection and insufficient public transport. “It is a moment of punishment, of punishment on the part of the United States”, he assessed, connecting the strangulation to a “new national security strategy” and hemispheric security of the Trump administration.

The secretary highlighted that the attack on Cuba is not isolated: it is part of a regional offensive that began with Venezuela in 2026, involves agreements with Paraguay and pressure on Panama to remove the country from China’s trade route. “It is a strangulation of the Cuban people’s possibility of survival”, he summarized.

War without bombs, but with dead

One of the most serious points reported by Ana Prestes was the human impact of the energy crisis. “It is possible to say, yes, that they are in a war, a war without bombs, but a war with wounded, with dead,” he stated. According to her, there are records of people dying in hospitals or remaining in a vegetative state due to insufficient energy for essential medical equipment.

Despite the gravity, the leader made a point of specifying: “We cannot say that there is a total humanitarian crisis, because the Cubans still have food, they have water.” The problem, he explained, is logistics: “It is becoming increasingly difficult for these supplies to reach different regions of the country.”

Concrete solidarity: food, medicine and solar energy

The caravan took food, medicine and solar panels to the Caribbean country. Ana Prestes reported that the fundraising campaigns continue “in full swing”, as the need is continuous. The bet on photovoltaic energy has a clear strategy: “They cannot block the sun”, he noted, highlighting that technological cooperation with China already allows 50% of electricity in Cuba to come from solar sources.

The mission allowed direct contact with the Cuban reality. “We were able to experience this situation with them and understand how the Cuban people are dealing with this in a very painful, very unfair way,” he reported. At the same time, Ana Prestes expressed admiration for their ability to respond: “A people who use their creativity to overcome problems”.

Determination, not fainting

For the PCdoB secretary, the main lesson of the trip was the realization that, despite the suffering, there is no sign of surrender. “There is a struggle, there is a determination to face this situation and not to give up,” he stated. This stance, according to her, reflects the political consciousness of the Cuban people about the origin of the siege: “It is United States imperialism that has imposed one of its worst and most aggressive phases on our people here in the region.”

Ana Prestes concluded by reaffirming the PCdoB’s internationalist commitment: “Our total solidarity with the Cuban people, the Cuban government, and the Cuban Communist Party remains, which will overcome this brutal phase of attack by the United States”. The message is clear: solidarity cannot be just speech, but concrete, organized and permanent action. In times of imperialist offensive, the unity of people remains the main weapon against barbarism.