Russia finally makes good on promises to help Cuba, but its level of commitment is unclear. The left are clearly immobilized, even as Iran demonstrates how to fight back.
Donald Trump recently bragged that he was “on a roll” after kidnapping President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela and beginning the process of turning that country into a U.S. vassal state. Venezuela was the first domino to fall and the U.S. planned for Cuba to be next. An important part of this strategy was to end Venezuelan oil shipments to Cuba, along with threats of lawfare indictments against Cuban leadership as was done against Maduro, and demands that President Miguel Diaz-Canel step down. Already weakened by 67 years of unilateral coercive measures and the imposition of a State Sponsor of Terrorism Status, which increased the economic damage of the U.S. maximum pressure campaign, Cuba was in great danger. Trump felt confident that the same page from the U.S. imperialist playbook in the Americas could be used in joining Israel in an attack on Iran on February 28, assassinating the Supreme Leader and bombing a school, all within the first day.
However, the U.S. did not count on Iranian resistance, and arrogantly behaved as though it did not have the capability or the courage to fight back. But Iranian missiles struck U.S. bases throughout the region, its puppet state Qatar’s natural gas refineries, and Israel itself. Iran closed off shipping in the Straits of Hormuz, a major route for transporting oil, to nations that will not make payment in Chinese currency. U.S. vassal/allies in Europe are torn between helping Trump in Iran or saving their political capital to continue the proxy war in Ukraine, a conflict they are happy to continue.
The misguided effort against Iran that was supposed to be what Trump called an “excursion” is cutting off supplies of oil and gas and raising prices around the world. Trump feared that supply shortages would raise gasoline prices in the U.S., something U.S. voters won’t stand for, even as they are relatively obedient about all other issues. He was forced to increase supplies by easing sanctions on Russian oil that have been in place for four years, after Joe Biden declared that doing so would “turn the ruble to rubble.”
Now under U.S. control, Venezuela did end the delivery of its oil to Cuba. Mexico and Colombia were also sources of oil for Cuba, but they, too, have been blocked by the U.S. and aren’t even defiant rhetorically. The arrival of a Russian oil tanker, the Anatoly Kolodkin, in Matanzas, Cuba, on March 31, elicited a collective sigh of relief not just from Cubans but for millions of people around the world who watched the U.S. siege in despair and in anger.
The Russian shipment was the first in three months since the United States began cutting off oil, an act of war and a violation of international law. Supporters of Cuba, its rights of sovereignty, and of the human rights of its people, observed nations that were unable or unwilling to confront the U.S. crime. Before the arrival of the Anatoly Kolodkin, a Chinese vessel flying a Russian flag, the Sea Horse, was reportedly ready to break the United States blockade, only to change course and sail to Trinidad instead of Cuba. Initial reports about the sailing of the Anatoly Kolodkin were in question after the March 20 announcement that the U.S. easing of sanctions on Russian oil did not extend to Cuba.
Trump’s desperation as he tries to extricate himself and the U.S. from their hubris gave Russia new cards to play. Russia acknowledges talking to the U.S., but how their decision to take action emerged is not yet known. It is quite possible that the need to keep Russian oil supplies flowing played a role in the U.S. standing down as Russia finally chose to stand up.
The United States commitment to upending the Cuban revolution has caused great suffering in that country and disruption throughout that region. One by one, nations that participated in medical brigades with Cuba buckled under U.S. pressure, even as their citizens exhorted them to stand firm. Jamaicans marched and chanted in vain, “Bring back the nurses,” “Bring back the doctors,” only to see a 50-year-old service end as their government capitulated along with others. Cuba is increasingly isolated as less powerful nations are threatened by coercive measures, lawfare, indictments, and visa restrictions that would cause great harm to their people.
It is too simple to say that small countries in the Caribbean basin can’t fight the U.S. Like states around the world, they will act if their people push them. Without that pressure in their own countries and the left internationally, giving in to Washington is the fallback position and an explanation that usually goes unchallenged.
But now is the moment for a challenge if left forces have any desire to live up to that name. Where is the left in the Americas and in Europe? Thus far, they have been content to bring humanitarian aid to Cuba, a good deed, but they are unwilling to exert the force that could make capitulation an expensive political proposition.
Anyone who feared for the continuity of the Cuban revolution owes Iran a great deal of thanks. Their determination has changed the equation. U.S. overreach strengthened Russia’s hand and its willingness to defy the U.S. in sending a tanker to give Cuba the opportunity to fight another day.
Although it must be pointed out that Russia cannot always be counted on to oppose the U.S. economically and politically. Along with China, Russia’s veto power as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council has often gone to waste. These two countries spoke eloquently against Trump’s Board of Peace, which puts Gaza under U.S. control, but they abstained instead of using their veto power to stop the crime. They did so again and allowed a resolution to pass, which condemned Iran for its acts of self-defense without mentioning the U.S. and Israeli aggression.
This columnist was quite skeptical that Russia would ever make good on its words of support for Cuba. It is unclear if there will be more shipments there. The arrival of the Anatoly Kolodkin was welcome, but this delivery is not enough to save the Cuban people from U.S. imperialism.
While millions of people turned out for the latest No Kings protest, a Democratic Party recruitment effort completely bereft of any useful political demands or organizing, Cuba and the rest of the region under U.S. attack receive only cursory attention or charity from well-intentioned but ineffective leftists.
Social media was full of arguments about No Kings and whether it was or wasn’t useful to participate. What would be useful is a sustained organizing strategy to stiffen the spines of Mexico and Colombia to make their words of support for Cuba truly meaningful. The people of Jamaica and Honduras and Guyana and Barbados are very angry about losing their Cuban doctors and nurses. Where are the mobilizations needed to channel that anger into action that will move those states to create plans to challenge the U.S.?
This moment of imperialist crisis is the moment for the people to move. The people of Iran are being bombed, their leaders are being assassinated, and Trump is sending troops to the region. But they remain resolute and provide a guide for international action by people who claim to be on the left.
Margaret Kimberley is the author of Prejudential: Black America and the Presidents. You can support her work on Patreon and also find it on Twitter, Bluesky, and Telegram platforms. She can be reached via email at margaret.kimberley@blackagendareport.com.
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