Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla participated in a ceremony in Caracas, Venezuela, on Thursday to honor the 32 Cuban Communist Party members who lost their lives during the recent arrest of the overthrown dictator, Nicolás Maduro.
His presence, alongside Venezuela’s interim leader Delcy Rodríguez, was significant as it marked the most public appearance of a Cuban official in Venezuela since Maduro’s arrest. Rodríguez spoke to pay tribute to those who died in defense of a controversial regime and to assert that the Cuban Communist Party remains committed to its interests in Venezuela.
Maduro, along with his wife Cilia Flores, was apprehended during an operation by U.S. law enforcement that penetrated Caracas, breaching the security of the Miraflores Palace. They are facing trial in the Southern District of New York for multiple serious charges, including conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism. The U.S. had previously offered a $50 million reward for information about Maduro, although, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, no leads came forward.
While no Americans were harmed during the operation to capture Maduro, the count of Venezuelan casualties was unclear at the time. Nevertheless, the Cuban Communist Party reported the death of 32 soldiers who were defending the Venezuelan government.
According to the official newspaper of the Cuban Communist Party, these individuals acted heroically, facing intense resistance and ultimately falling during direct combat and bombings of their facilities.
Delcy Rodríguez held a ceremony on Thursday with Cuba’s Foreign Minister, where statements were made asserting that Cubans and Venezuelans are united in their struggles, emphasizing that Maduro’s passing would not alter their shared identity.
Rodríguez remarked, “The blood of both countries was shed on Venezuelan soil, as it should be among brotherhood.” He remarked that Cuba was there to pay tribute to the Cuban fighters who stood against what they characterized as an imperialist invasion.
The Foreign Minister further asserted that the Cuban Communist Party remains a powerful influence, echoing sentiments from the Chávez era.
Rodríguez insisted that “the Bolivarian Revolution, the Chávez Revolution, and the Cuban Revolution will guide our peoples in their collective journey towards liberation,” pledging continued efforts in defense of peace and rights.
However, Cuba is seen by many as far from a champion of international law, especially given its ties to various controversial regimes and organizations, including Iran, China, Hamas, and FARC.
Delcy Rodríguez also referred to the Cuban comrades as “heroes of the homeland,” asserting their defensive stance against what she termed an illegal invasion.
She emphasized unity, saying that they fought as one people, asserting a vision of a common humanity.
Delcy Rodríguez is known as a passionate Marxist within the Maduro government, and she has a complicated history, having previously worked with the Trump administration, which claimed she was more cooperative.
Under Maduro, Cuba’s influence in Venezuela has grown significantly, reminiscent of the Chávez era.
Rubio previously commented that while Maduro spent considerable time in Cuba and was favored by Cubans, many in his circle are not ideologically committed, though he did highlight key figures, like Delcy Rodríguez, as ideologically loyal.
Rubio has also reiterated concerns about the remaining connections with Cuba, especially regarding security forces controlled by Cuban officials.
