Image / Cubadebate

By María Josefina Arce

President Miguel Díaz Canel took a message of friendship and gratitude from the Cuban people to Mexico, a nation with which we are united by indestructible ties and which under the mandate of Andrés Manuel López Obrador have continued to be strengthened.

It is an honor to come to Mexico, to which Cuba owes, loves and respects so much, said the president, who described that sister nation as a dear one, in his speech at the celebrations of the 211th anniversary of Mexican independence, in which he participated at the invitation of López Obrador.

Díaz Canel's words sum up the feelings of Cubans, who do not forget that this country stood firm and defied the United States when it sought to isolate the nascent revolution.  It was the only state that did not break off relations with Cuba when we were expelled from the OAS, the Organization of American States, by imperial mandate.

But it has also historically condemned the criminal U.S. blockade against Cuba and has demanded the lifting of this cruel measure, a demand reiterated by López Obrador in his speech at the civic-military ceremony this past Thursday.

Solidarity has always been present in bilateral ties and in times of pandemic it could not be absent. Mexico sent medical supplies and food to our country, while Cuban doctors helped COVID 19 in that Latin American state.

History has united both peoples throughout time. Cuba's National Hero, José Martí, lived in those lands and Mexican veterans Gabriel González and Felipe Herrero participated in the Cuban independence struggles of the 19th century and reached the highest military ranks.

From the Port of Tuxpan, the Granma yacht set sail with Fidel Castro at the head of a group of young revolutionaries to undertake the last stage of the struggle for the definitive independence of Cuba.

It is an unquestionable fact that both peoples have marched together and have always honored their bilateral relations. The current visit of Díaz Canel and his participation in the celebrations of a historic date for Mexico, as guest of honor, speaks for itself of friendship and closeness. A gesture that the Cuban president described as of immeasurable value at a time when the revolution is the object of a multidimensional war.

This is Díaz Canel's third visit to Mexican lands in the last three years. The first was in 2018 when he attended the inauguration of López Obrador. A year later he would return to address issues at the highest level.

Today, the ties are extremely fruitful and they seek to expand economic-commercial, investment and cooperation relations. Political-diplomatic dialogue is also fluid.

Centuries of history and common principles unite Cuba and Mexico, two brotherly countries interested in continuing to strengthen their bilateral relations, based on respect, non-interference in internal affairs and solidarity.