Cuba's dignified and intransigent stance

By María Josefina Arce

Throughout the so-called "October Crisis", Cuba had a dignified, transparent and intransigent stance, which it maintained upon learning of the negotiations, from which it was excluded, between the United States and the then Soviet Union on the withdrawal from Cuban soil of Soviet missiles, placed as a form of deterrence against the aggressive U.S. policy and to eliminate the advantage that the neighboring nation had with its armament in Turkey, Italy and the United Kingdom.

Historians recall that history was repeating itself again, referring to 1898 when the Greater Antilles was left out of the talks between Spain and the United States and the subsequent signing of the Treaty of Paris. The Cubans were robbed of their independence after years of struggle against the Spanish colonial yoke.

Washington was taking control of the Caribbean nation, after having intervened in a timely manner in the conflict, making clear its geopolitical interests with respect to our country.

Now, once again, negotiations were taking place behind its back and key issues concerning the preservation of the independence and sovereignty of the nation were left out, which, as history had shown, could not trust the word of the United States that it would not invade our territory.

In this regard, the historic leader of the revolution, Fidel Castro, was energetic and made clear the Cuban position in the face of imperial threats and enunciated a five-point plan to be taken into account, which included the cessation of the economic blockade, all subversive activities, pirate attacks, all violations of air and naval space and the withdrawal of the Guantanamo naval base and the return of that territory in eastern Cuba.

Fidel also rejected any inspection in our country, as demanded by the United States, to verify the withdrawal of the rockets, since Cuba had not violated any international law. The attitude of the highest leadership of the revolution was firm.

Since those tense days of October 1962, when the world was on the brink of nuclear war, it has been demonstrated time and again how accurate Fidel's actions were. The Guantanamo naval base is still maintained today, which has been used for provocative actions against the Cuban people and constitutes an affront to our sovereignty.

The U.S. blockade is a reality, despite Cuba's constant denunciations of the economic and human damage it causes, and the 29 resolutions of condemnation adopted by the UN General Assembly.

This unilateral measure was even intensified in the midst of the COVID 19 pandemic and prevented the country from acquiring medicines and other supplies that could make the difference between life and death.

Aggressive actions against our country have been maintained, which today with the advance of communication technologies have moved to social networks, from which they seek to subvert the constitutional order.

But Cuba, as it did sixty years ago, maintains a firm and dignified stance, and despite all the obstacles, continues working to build a better society.