Madrid/Uncertainty hangs over the thousands of Cuban doctors who remain in Venezuela and rumors multiply in the absence of information. What is going to happen now with the agreement signed by Hugo Chávez and Fidel Castro in 2000 to exchange oil for health personnel? Express mention has been made of a request from the White House for the new interim Government of Delcy Rodríguez to break with China, Russia, Iran and Cuba, which would imply, of course, the withdrawal of intelligence and security personnel from the country.
US President Donald Trump also said, this sunday that “Cuba survived for many years thanks to oil and money from Venezuela. In exchange it provided ‘security services’ to the last two Venezuelan dictators.” The president then said that there will be “no more oil” for the Island and although he did not specifically mention that of PDVSA, that is how it was understood.
But the exchange included health workers and the question is whether Trump’s threat will materialize, leaving the shipment of crude oil to Havana to zero and, if so, what incentive would Cuba have to maintain a deployment there of some 14,000 troops whose absence, at this moment, would be significant for Venezuela.
What incentive would Cuba have to maintain a deployment of some 14,000 troops there whose absence, at this moment, would be significant for Venezuela?
In the absence of specificity on the part of those interested, rumors fly. Especially given the numerous flights of the Ilyushin Il-96-300 with registration number CU-T1250 registered by radars in recent days, which have led us to believe that the number is already decreasing.
Testimonies of alleged desertions appear on social networks and the independent press and, as confirmed 14ymedio through your sourcesthe situation depends on the fate of the collaborators, since some have been quartered while others carried out their tasks with some normality. Last week, The provincial newspaper of Sancti Spíritus put a stop to the gossip and published a brief interview with the head of the brigade from Sancti Spiritus, who wanted to make it clear that the health workers have stopped where there were risks, but they had continued working in the rest of the country.
That was insufficient and the week has continued to be full of comments of all kinds, so the Cuban Government has once again deployed propaganda. Caribbean Channel He went to the La Urbina Comprehensive Diagnostic Center, in Petare – belonging to the state of Miranda, near Caracas – to prepare a brief report broadcast on the news this Tuesday in which they show the doctors treating the patients, several of whom they put before the camera to flatter the Cubans.
“No one returns home without taking care of themselves, no matter the time and much less the circumstances,” says the reporter, who is talking to some Venezuelans. “Very grateful for the care that the Cuban doctors give us because the poor people of the community attend here and have good care,” says one. “They fulfill their duty, as it should be and established by what they have contracted with them, and they truly are wonderful people,” says another patient.
The doctors also explain how good they feel in the country, without any mention of the current situation. “We feel deep pride and great solidarity, since we come with the thought of internationalism, solidarity and humanism that characterizes all Cubans,” says specialist Yarelis Cutiño. “We are going to provide the support that the Venezuelan people need until they want, until they decide,” he continues.
Nurse Anisleidis Martínez also looks straight into the camera and mentions how “at this moment their presence in Venezuela has a very important meaning,” which she says they will continue to support as long as necessary.
The same spirit runs through the Facebook groups of Cuban doctors in the country, where “the difficult recent events” are mentioned more accurately, in the face of which “solidarity becomes medicine.”
The same spirit runs through the Facebook groups of Cuban doctors in the country, where “the difficult recent events” are mentioned more accurately, in the face of which “solidarity becomes medicine,” says a message from the Agua Viva Medical Brigade, in the state of Lara. “The Cuban medical brigade, together with its Venezuelan sisters and brothers, reaffirms its commitment to be where it is most needed: next to the people, caring for lives, offering hope. Health knows no borders. When people embrace each other, strength multiplies. Today, doctors from Cuba and Venezuela work shoulder to shoulder, demonstrating that unity is the best antidote against adversity,” says a poster with which it attempts to instil a forced spirit.
“Blah, blah, blah. This is how Cuba’s medical missions work, especially in Venezuela. Everyone is forced to publish stupid things in favor of communism,” responds a single comment. The account displays a stream of short thank-you videos from patients.
In 2019, the newspaper Granmaplaced the number of Cubans on mission in Venezuela at 29,505, of which 20,000 were health workers spread across the 25 states, although in 2026 the figures estimate that the number has dropped to around 14,000, among other reasons due to the drop in oil shipments. If the United States effectively forces Delcy Rodríguez to stop delivering oil, the 2000 agreements will be officially broken and Venezuela will have to face the abrupt loss of thousands of doctors, without knowing how it can replace them in the short term.
