Nervous and hoarse, Díaz-Canel addressed an indifferent audience at the Anti-Imperialist Tribune
14ymedio, Darío Hernández, Havana, January 3, 2026 – The morning dawned somewhat cold in Havana, with clear skies that failed to conceal the power outages in several municipalities and the water supply problems that continue to affect daily life in large areas of the city. Added to this everyday scene, early in the morning, was a last-minute official announcement: a rally at the Anti-Imperialist Tribune, next to the Malecón, to “denounce US attacks against Venezuela,” following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro by US troops.
While the Electric Union warned that the generation deficit for the day would exceed 1,600 MW, at bus stops and doorways people were talking less about the energy report than about what had happened in Caracas. The topic spread quickly throughout the city. At the popular market in La Cuevita, in San Miguel del Padrón, the pulse of the conversation seemed more intense than at the Anti-Imperialist Tribune itself.
Among the stalls selling jewelry, clothing, and household items, the comment was almost unanimous: “Did you see what happened to Maduro?” Some people were boasting: “That wouldn’t happen here, because they’d shoot down at least one or two helicopters,” said a man while offering sneakers and T-shirts for sale. Others preferred sarcasm and emphasized “how easy” it had been for U.S. special forces to capture the Venezuelan president and his wife, Cilia Flores. “It was like a movie,” said a young man, cell phone in hand, scanning the headlines.
Cubans are concerned about the oil supply being cut off due to Maduro’s fall.
There was no shortage of conspiracy theories. One woman claimed that “it was all planned” and that without Havana’s complicity, it would not have been possible for the Venezuelan leader to fall into Washington’s hands. “But we can rest easy because there’s nothing in Cuba that interests the Americans,” she said, as she chose a scouring pad. A few meters away, a household goods vendor told 14ymedio that “there’s sure to be a cut in oil supplies now, and everything here is going to get even more heated,” a concern that resonated more strongly than any slogan.
That restless murmur contrasted with the scene unfolding at the Anti-Imperialist Tribune, in front of the US Embassy in Havana. There, by mid-morning, hundreds of people had gathered with little enthusiasm. Many arrived in groups organized by their workplaces and tried to protect themselves from the sea breeze, which this January is not only laden with salt spray but also with a cold that seeps through coats.
The event began with predictable speeches, laden with references to “imperialism” and the defense of regional sovereignty. Miguel Díaz-Canel took the floor with a tone that sounded nervous. His hoarse voice, attempts to raise his volume, and forced gestures conveyed more tension than firmness. Some in the audience listened in silence; others took the opportunity to check their cell phones or talk quietly. The solemnity of the leaders contrasted with the evident fatigue among those gathered.
Unlike La Cuevita, where the debate was spontaneous and at times heated, the atmosphere at the Tribune seemed encapsulated, detached from people’s immediate concerns. A few minutes after Díaz-Canel concluded his speech, the stampede began. Entire groups left almost in unison, seeking shelter from the wind, looking for a bus, or simply thinking about getting home before the next power outage.
On the way back, the city was still talking about Venezuela. In a line to buy bread, someone asked if “Venezuelan oil is now really gone.” In a park, two retirees discussed how Maduro would behave before the US judges. “Change is coming,” summed up a bicycle taxi driver who, wearing long sleeves and sunglasses, was trying to convince a couple of tourists to get into his vehicle.
Translated by GH
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