The Deputy Secretary of State of the United States, Christopher Landaustated this Wednesday that Washington hopes that Cubans will be able to “exercise their fundamental freedoms” in 2026.
Landau made these statements through a video message that was projected at the residence of the US ambassador to Cuba, Mike Hammer, during the opening ceremony of the activities for the 250th anniversary of the US declaration of independence, according to reports. EFE.
He added that President Donald Trump’s administration is committed to “supporting ordinary Cubans” and insisting that human rights be respected on the island and that all prisoners for political reasons be released.
“As President Trump has said, the Castro-communist regime is faltering, it will not last much longer. After 67 years of a failed revolution that has betrayed the Cuban people, it is time for the change that the people on the island aspire to,” Landau stated.
The Undersecretary of State concluded his message by warning that “Washington will closely follow all events on the island.”
Hammer, who addressed very similar words to the audience, began his speech by denouncing that “multiple Cuban guests” had not been able to attend the reception because the security forces had prevented them from doing so.
NGOs and Cuban dissidents denounced a series of police operations to prevent at least ten opponents and independent journalists from attending the meeting: some were detained and others intercepted and returned to their homes.
Among them, the Spanish agency specifies, were the president of the Council for the Democratic Transition in Cuba (CTDC), Manuel Cuesta Morúa, the leader of the Ladies in White, Berta Soler, the director of the independent media 14yMedioYoani Sánchez, and the director of the Coexistence Studies Center, Dagoberto Valdés.
Several activists and opponents have denounced an increase in repressive pressure in Cuba, a fact that they link to the concern in the Cuban Government after the capture of its ally, the president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro.
