The Infamous Position of the United States against Cuba

While the world lives through one of the most disastrous pandemics in modern history — one in which Cuba finds itself on the front lines of the public health battle against the new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 — the United states insists in prolonging and accelerating the violent economic and financial blockade it has maintained against the island for 60 years

In the final days of March, the number of confirmed virus cases in the world reached more than 350,000 persons and the deaths surpassed 11,000 in 180 nations, principally Italy, China, Iran, the United States and Brazil.

Cuba, which provides a structure of free health care for its entire population, has been recognized in the world for excellence in medical coverage and for lending help to many nations through international missions. Beginning on May 24, 1963, 55 health care workers went to the Republic of Algeria, which had been recently liberated from French colonialism.

Since that date and in difficult times of natural disasters, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, and malaria, dengue and Ebola epidemics, Cuban brigades have come together to lend assistance to those affected, in an international example of appropriate human solidarity.

Now with the COVID-19 pandemic intensifying, Cuba has sent medical-health care missions to China, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Granada, Surinam, Belize, Italy, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Antigua, Barbuda, and to San Vicente and the Grenadines. In addition, it accepted the British cruiser MS Braemar — denied docking by several countries — in the port of Mariel, with several passengers infected with the coronavirus. For this, abundant expression of appreciation has been offered to La Mayor de las Antillas [Cuba.]

It is under these circumstances that the United States is again attacking the noble, altruistic and humanitarian policies of the Cuban government and of Cuban doctors. A statement issued by the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Embassy in this capital urged countries that are now receiving Cuban medical cooperation to reject this contribution, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. This was delivered in a tweet from the U.S. diplomatic representation in Havana, as the Caribbean island was sending health care brigades to several nations to help combat the new coronavirus.

“Cuba offers its international medical missions to those afflicted with COVID-19, just to recover the money it lost when countries stopped participating in the abusive program,” said the ignominious text. “Host countries seeking Cuba’s help for #COVIDi19 must examine agreements and end labour abuse,” it added. [ https://www.facebook.com/USEmbCuba/posts/10157975361558911 ]

How outrageous, the imperial arrogance that warns free nations of the world to not receive the supportive help from Cuban doctors in these very difficult times.

While Washington reinforces the genocidal blockade against Cuba during this time of the pandemic, it also wants to block others from fighting the virus with the humanitarian labor of Cuban international health brigades, which have served 164 world countries since the triumph of the revolution.

In the United States, the business of privatization has left millions of persons helpless, because the operating premise of the clinics and hospitals is completely discriminatory: if you don’t have money, they don’t see you. If you have good insurance, the doors open.

The president of the United States, used to lying, has been the focus of numerous critiques for his poor management of the situation. In early statements, he said the coronavirus was only a passing flu and accused the Democrats and the media of hyping fear. Later, he insisted that everything was under control and touted his own “intelligence” in confronting the disease. He stressed that they had already reduced the levels of infection, and that in 15 days all businesses would reopen to save the economy — in the face of a small common cold. Later he had to declare a national emergency.

As a consequence, the virus has already affected more than 60,000 U.S. citizens of whom 1,031 have died. Trump’s pathological obsession clashed with a global warning that cried out for cooperation with the efficient and professional Cuban health program.

As Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said recently, “During the threat of the novo cornavirusSARS-CoV-2, the decision of our government has been to maintain medical collaboration and in those nations where there are Cuban internationalists, to convert them into an advanced bastion is to confront the pandemic.’

Trump, once more, will be left behind.