US Undersecretary of State Christopher Landau said this Wednesday (28) that Washington hopes that Cubans will be able to “exercise their fundamental freedoms” this year.
Landau made these statements, which point to regime change, in a video message recorded and shown at the residence of US Ambassador to Cuba Mike Hammer during the opening ceremony of the 250th anniversary celebrations of the US Declaration of Independence.
“We hope that in 2026 Cubans will finally be able to exercise their fundamental freedoms,” said the American diplomat.
He added that President Donald Trump’s government is committed to “supporting ordinary Cubans” and insisting on respect for human rights on the island and the release of all political prisoners.
“As President Trump said, the Castro-Communist regime is reeling; it will not last much longer. After 67 years of a failed revolution that betrayed the Cuban people, it is time for the change that the people of the island so long for,” declared Landau.
The Under Secretary of State concluded his speech by warning that “Washington will continue to closely monitor all developments on the island.”
Hammer, who addressed the audience with very similar words, began his speech by denouncing that several Cuban guests were unable to attend the reception because they were prevented from doing so by security forces.
Cuban NGOs and dissidents reported a series of police operations to prevent at least ten opposition members and independent journalists from attending the event: some were detained, while others were intercepted and returned to their homes.
Among them 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 outlet 14yMedio, Yoani Sánchez; and the director of the Center for Coexistence Studies, Dagoberto Valdés.
Several activists and opposition members have recently denounced an increase in repression in Cuba, which they attribute to the Cuban regime’s concern following the arrest of its ally, Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro.
