“Cuba Is Not Alone”: Voices from Around the World Unite at the International Colloquium

By Thalia Fuentes Puebla, Ines Maria Castro Machado and Enrique Gonzales Diaz (Enro) on August 13, 2026 from Havana

On Wednesday, the Havana Convention Center hosted a solidarity gathering that brought together more than a hundred delegates from various countries as part of the activities of the First International Colloquium “Fidel: Legacy and Future.”

The forum, titled “Anti-Imperialist Tribune: Solidarity Cannot Be Blocked,” was attended by Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic, along with Political Bureau members Roberto Morales Ojeda, Party Secretary of Organization; Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, Minister of Foreign Affairs; and Teresa Amarelle Boué, Secretary General of the Federation of Cuban Women.

The event served as a platform to denounce the U.S. economic, commercial, and financial blockade against Cuba, political interference, and war in all its forms, but also to raise a voice in favor of rights and social justice.

“Your presence here demonstrates once again that Cuba is not alone,” stated Noemí Rabaza, First Vice President of ICAP, at the opening of the meeting. Her words resonated in Hall 1 of the Convention Center as the best response to the imperialist siege.

The gathering brought together representatives of solidarity organizations from Latin America, Europe, Africa, and Asia, who conveyed messages of support for the Cuban people and denounced the U.S. government’s aggression.

“This blockade is a form of genocide in the 21st century being waged against the noble people of Cuba,” stated the vice president of the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association, who highlighted a bond that transcends generations and is strengthened by resistance against the economic siege.

From Mexico, Magdalena Rosales, coordinator of the Mexico-Cuba Brotherhood Group, recalled the historic friendship between the two nations. “Cuba has always stood with the Mexican cause, just as Mexico has always stood with the Cuban cause,” she said, emphasizing the need to demand the lifting of the blockade.

“We know that one of the most sensitive issues is energy. We need all the peoples of the world to demand that the blockade be lifted. There can be no doubt about medicine. There are essential medicines. Why are Cuban children dying due to a lack of technology that is already established—the best in the world?” she asked.

Puerto Rican activist Soan Tanis was unequivocal: “We must say it plainly: the blockade against Cuba is a war.” She added that Puerto Rico, as a U.S. colony, understands firsthand the meaning of imperialist domination.

One of the most moving speeches at the forum was given by Gloria La Riva, coordinator of the Hatuey Project and a U.S. activist, who recounted an anecdote that reflects the spirit of resistance of the Cuban people. “Whatever it takes, Fidel—that remains the motto of the Cuban people,” she affirmed.

La Riva recalled a speech by Fidel at the congress of the Federation of Cuban Women, where the Comandante warned of the sacrifices that would follow the fall of the Soviet Union. “He said, ‘If Cuba were the only socialist country, we would raise the flag high tomorrow to defend socialism until the last Cuban,’” she recounted. “He did this to prepare the people for what was to come. And those were times when many said: we cannot survive without the Soviet Union. But he did it through the unity of the people.”

La Riva highlighted the role of material aid as a form of solidarity. “Right now, the primary struggle—in addition to what we’re doing in the streets—is material aid,” she stated.

She revealed that her organization has managed to send medicines and supplies to Cuba, even amid the restrictions of the blockade. “We’ve heard of many cases of children who would have died but were saved by what we sent. When we arrived at the hospital, the doctors told us, ‘What you’re bringing is exactly what we need.’”

Onyesonwu Chatoyer, co-chair of the U.S. Network of Solidarity with Cuba and a board member of the Venceremos Brigade, reaffirmed the commitment of U.S. activists to the Cuban Revolution. “Solidarity with Cuba is unshakable. We will defy the blockade as long as it exists,” she stated.

From Europe, Italian professor Luciano Vassapollo was unequivocal: “Cuba is humanity, Fidel is humanity; he is part of humanity’s heritage.” In his remarks, he highlighted the Commander-in-Chief’s legacy as a beacon for popular movements around the world.

From Portugal, a member of the International Tribunal Against the Blockade described this initiative as “more than a tool: it is a weapon of struggle” that brings to light the crimes of the economic blockade and mobilizes public consciousness against imperialist aggression.

Michael Lapsley, honorary president of the South Africa-Cuba Friendship Society and a survivor of apartheid, highlighted his country’s debt to Cuba for its support in the struggle for liberation. “Fidel’s legacy inspires us to continue fighting for justice,” he affirmed.

Sun Xueqing, vice president of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, reaffirmed China’s support for the Cuban resistance. “The friendship between the peoples of China and Cuba is unbreakable,” he declared.

Iraklis Tsavdaridis, executive secretary of the World Peace Council, highlighted Cuba’s commitment to promoting peace and denounced the unjust U.S. blockade, emphasizing the Cuban people’s resistance as an example for the world.

The forum concluded with a message of unity and hope. As Norberto Galiotti, coordinator of the Latin American and Caribbean Continental Solidarity Network, put it: “A single drop is very little, but another makes a downpour, and that is the meaning of this solidarity.” It was a call to join forces against the blockade and to demonstrate that, as Noemí Rabaza affirmed at the start of the meeting, Cuba is not alone.

Source Cubadebate, translation Resumen Latinoamericano