HAVANA — In a powerful display of political solidarity, tens of thousands of Cuban citizens converged Friday upon Havana’s iconic Anti-Imperialist Tribune plaza, situated directly opposite the United States Embassy. The government-organized demonstration served as both a memorial for 32 Cuban security officers killed during a January 3rd operation in Venezuela and a protest against U.S. foreign policy.
Participants waved Cuban and Venezuelan flags amidst the coastal breeze along Havana’s waterfront, creating a sea of national colors. President Miguel Díaz-Canel personally engaged with the assembled crowd, many bundled against the unseasonable chill. The gathering echoed with Cuba’s national anthem, symbolizing what government officials characterized as unified resistance against external threats.
The catalyst for this massive gathering stems from a controversial U.S. military action in Caracas that resulted in the deaths of three dozen Cuban officers who formed part of former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro’s security detail. The operation, intended to apprehend Maduro on drug trafficking charges, has significantly escalated tensions between Havana and Washington.
Cuba’s Foreign Ministry utilized social media platform X to declare: “The entire Nation rises up! This constitutes a resounding response to those who dare to threaten the peace and sovereignty for which we have fought so hard.”
The demonstration occurred against a backdrop of increasingly strained relations following President Donald Trump’s recent statements demanding Cuba “make a deal” before facing unspecified consequences. Trump additionally announced measures to disrupt Cuba’s access to Venezuelan oil resources, which experts warn could have devastating effects on an already struggling Cuban economy experiencing severe energy shortages.
This show of popular strength evolved into what Cubans term a “combatant march,” a tradition dating back to Fidel Castro’s leadership era. The event follows Thursday’s solemn ceremonies where thousands paid respects to the slain officers at the Ministry of the Armed Forces headquarters. The officers’ remains returned to Cuba Thursday morning, with memorial services scheduled across all provincial capitals before Friday afternoon interments.
The Trump administration has notably intensified economic sanctions against Cuba, continuing a policy framework established in the 1960s but implementing additional measures that have significantly constrained the island nation’s economy—an outcome explicitly acknowledged by White House officials.