¡Patria o Muerte, Venceremos!

Cuba’s Ongoing Resistance Against United States Imperialism

Samuel Gomes Rodrigues Jr.

“¡Patria o Muerte, Venceremos!”, “Homeland or Death, We Shall Overcome!” is Cuba’s national motto signifying the resistance and struggle of the Cuban people. Since Cuba gained liberation from the tyrannical Batista regime in 1959 the United States has done everything in its power to overthrow the socialist nation through an attempted invasion, failed and successful assassination attempts, spreading misinformation, applying embargos and sanctions, and most recently the oil blockade, imposed by the Trump regime, which has negatively affected the people of Cuba in numerous ways.

As of March 17th, 2026 Cuba has reconnected its power grid and brought its largest oil-fired power plant back online after more than 29 hours without power. Many reactionaries have been quick to blame the Cuban government and its leaders, however evidence and current events point to the unjust acts of the United States of America under the Trump regime. On January 29th, 2026, there was an oil blockade placed on Cuba. Cuba historically relies on Venezuela, Mexico, and Russia for oil shipments, which they use to produce power for the country. Understanding this to be Cuba’s situation, the Trump regime has put in immense effort to prevent countries from trading oil with Cuba. This callous and underhanded act has left over 10 million Cuban citizens without access to power. The Trump regime has claimed that they are using this blockade due to Cuba’s so-called, “extraordinary actions that harm and threaten the United States.” which specifically reference their relationships with China, Iran, and Russia. They also have stated that, “The United States has zero tolerance for the depredations of the communist Cuban regime.”. The Trump regime has also stated, “The United States will act to protect the foreign policy, national security, and national interests of the United States, including by holding the Cuban regime accountable for its malign actions and relationships, while also remaining committed to supporting the Cuban people’s aspirations for a free and democratic society.”, even though Cuba has never shown any direct aggression towards U.S. sovereignty and regularly holds democratic elections. Demagogue Trump has also stated that he thinks he will take the “honor” of “taking Cuba” stating, “I do believe I’ll be … having the honor of taking Cuba. That’s a big honor. Taking Cuba in some form.”. He has also stated, “I mean, whether I free it, take it. Think I can do anything I want with it. You want to know the truth.” and that “They’re a very weakened nation right now.”. Even with these disgusting, inflammatory, and imperialist fascist statements the leader of Cuba, President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, has responded shortly after Trump’s half-witted and shallow outbursts stated that, “In the face of the worst scenario, Cuba is accompanied by a certainty: any external aggressor will clash with an impregnable resistance.”
Historically the most “free” and “democratic” countries on the planet have consistently without fail looked the other way as the United States has attempted to step on the throat of Cuba. Fortunately there are a few countries who do not fear or tolerate the imperialism of the United States. China has been helping Cuba by sending solar panels in order to counteract the effects of the oil blockade placed on Cuba. Beijing’s ambassador to Cuba, Hua Xin, has stated, “China has always maintained that Latin America and the Caribbean are one big family of sovereign, independent countries and in no way can be the backyard of any country.”. Chinese donors have given 5,000 household solar energy units which will be used at 3 Cuban clinics and a elderly care home. China has also helped Cuba develop 49 new “solar parks” with more in development with completion time estimated to be in the year of 2028. China has invested an estimated 34 billion dollars into 70 renewable energy projects in Cuba between 2010 to 2024. Mexico’s leader, President Claudia Sheinbaum, has announced that her country will ship humanitarian aid to Cuba. Sheinbaum has stated, “We are planning to send this aid, … It is mainly food and some other supplies that they have requested.”. Along with this President Sheinbaum has assured the world that they would continue to negotiate with the United States to lift the blockade. Russia and Canada have also stepped up and have spoken out against the United States. Canada has pledged food aid to Cuba, totaling up to 6.7 million dollars. Russia has tried to defy the oil blockade and have been negotiating nonstop with the Trump regime to lift the blockade, with Vladimir Putin calling the Trump’s actions, “unacceptable” as he met with Cuban ⁠Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez in Moscow. Multiple groups across Africa and Europe have also spoken out against this injustice. Nuestra America Convoy to Cuba (NACC) is a convoy that is made up of left-wing political parties, trade unions, and advocacy groups focusing on humanitarian aid for Cuba. The groups come primarily from Algeria, Morocco, Switzerland, Italy, England, Austria, Portugal, France, Iceland, Scotland, Greece, Spain, Belgium, Ireland, Germany, Turkey, Bulgaria, Sweden, and 50 other countries, including Chile, Brazil, and Colombia. Citizens of the United States have been extremely vocal on their disapproval of the Trump regime’s treatment of Cuba and its people. Polls show that 40% disapprove while 32% approve of the oil blockade. 29% say policies on Cuba are harsh, 26% say policies are just right, and 11% claim policies are too lenient. 61% of Americans approve of the U.S. having official diplomatic relations with Cuba while 10% disapprove. 61% are against the U.S. using military force to attack Cuba and overthrow their government compared to 57% who support this imperialist act. In typical contradictory fashion, the Trump regime has announced that they would send humanitarian aid to Cuba to “ease” the struggles caused by their oil blockade. Cuba’s Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio has called out this cross fingered handshake by responding on social media saying, “Quite hypocritical to apply draconian coercive measures denying basic economic conditions to millions and then to announce soup & cans for a few.”.

American imperialism is alive and well. There is no greater evidence for this than the Trump regime’s foul treatment of sovereign nations such as the Republic of Cuba. As Americans and members of the international community we must push back against the oppressive and chaotic tyranny of United States imperialism and the Trump regime. ¡Patria o Muerte, Venceremos!, Homeland or Death, We Shall Overcome!

References:

(Reuters. “Cuba Restores Power after 29-Hour Blackout amid US Oil Blockade.” Al Jazeera, 18 Mar. 2026, www.aljazeera.com/economy/2026/3/18/cuba-restores-power-after-29-hour-blackout-amid-us-oil-blockade.)
[3/28/2026 3:17 PM] Chris Bovet: (de Guzman, Chad, and Miranda Jeyaretnam. “The Crisis in Cuba, Explained.” Time Magazine, 17 Mar. 2026, time.com/article/2026/03/17/cuba-economic-energy-crisis-trump-us-explainer/.)

(Downs, Garrett. “Trump Says He Thinks He Will Have the “Honor” of “Taking Cuba.”” CNBC, 16 Mar. 2026, www.cnbc.com/2026/03/16/cuba-trump-taking.html.)

(Trotta, Daniel. “Trump Says He Can Do “Anything I Want” with Cuba.” Reuters, 16 Mar. 2026, www.reuters.com/world/americas/trump-says-he-thinks-he-will-have-honor-taking-cuba-2026-03-16/.)

(Walsh, Joe. “As Trump Floats “Taking Cuba,” Island’s President Warns Any Aggression Will Be Met with “Impregnable Resistance.”” CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026, www.cbsnews.com/news/as-trump-floats-taking-cuba-islands-president-warns-any-aggression-will-be-met-with-impregnable-resistance/.)

(Jennings, Ralph. “China to Help Cuba with Solar Energy amid US Oil Blockade and Total Power Outage.” South China Morning Post, 18 Mar. 2026, www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346978/china-help-cuba-solar-energy-amid-us-oil-blockade-and-total-power-outage.)

(Stepansky, Joseph. “Mexico Promises Food Support for Cuba as US Stifles the Island’s Fuel Supply.” Al Jazeera, 6 Feb. 2026, www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/2/6/mexico-promises-food-support-for-cuba-as-us-stifles-the-islands-fuel-supply#:~:text=News%7CDonald%20Trump-,Mexico%20promises%20food%20support%20for%20Cuba%20as%20US%20stifles%20the,that%20ship%20oil%20to%20Havana.&text=Mexico’s%20President%20Claudia%20Sheinbaum%20has,be%20delivering%20the%20aid%20imminently.)

(McMahon, Raphael. “European Groups Join Aid Convoy to Cuba amid Crippling Oil Blockade.” Al Jazeera, 18 Mar. 2026, www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/3/18/as-cuba-found-flotilla-leaves-italy-europe-divided-over-stance-on-crisis.)

(De La Feld, Simone. “European Delegation in Humanitarian Convoy to Cuba Set to Depart; Four MEPs on Board.” EU News, 17 Mar. 2026, www.eunews.it/en/2026/03/17/european-delegation-in-humanitarian-convoy-to-cuba-set-to-depart-four-meps-on-board/#:~:text=Among%20them%20are%20four%20elected,international%20solidarity%20associations%20and%20groups.)

(Muñoz, Marleidy. “Who Is Organizing the “Nuestra América” Flotilla to Cuba?” Havana Times, 16 Mar. 2026, havanatimes.org/features/who-is-organizing-the-nuestra-america-flotilla-to-cuba/#:~:text=According%20to%20statements%20from%20the,a%20duty%20of%20regional%20solidarity.)

(Reuters, and The Associated Press. “Russia Considers Fuel Support for Cuba as Canada Pledges Food Aid.” Al Jazeera, 25 Feb. 2026, www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/2/25/russia-considers-fuel-support-for-cuba-as-canada-pledges-food-aid#:~:text=Aid%20to%20Cuba&text=The%20Trump%20administration%20has%20signalled,an%20initial%20shipment%20to%20Cuba.)

(Rossell Hayes, Alexander. “More Americans Disapprove than Approve of the U.S. Blocking Oil Shipments to Cuba and the U.S. Embargo.” YouGov, 16 Mar. 2026, yougov.com/en-us/articles/54332-more-americans-disapprove-than-approve-of-the-us-blocking-oil-shipments-to-cuba-and-the-us-embargo.)