Solidarity with The People of Cuba

ByCuauhtémoc Cárdenas

This editorial by Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas Solórzano originally appeared in the February 16, 2026 edition of La Jornada, Mexico’s premier left wing daily newspaper.

Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas Solórzano was the first elected head of government of Mexico City and a three times Presidential candidate, including in the stolen 1988 election. He is the son of General Lázaro Cárdenas del Río, Mexico’s socialist President from 1934 to 1940.

Expressing full solidarity with the people of Cuba, a generous and peaceful people, united to ours by deep historical ties and a common commitment to the best causes of humanity, must be accompanied by a firm condemnation of the unilateral coercive measures that the United States government has adopted against that sister nation.

The economic blockade imposed more than six decades ago, repeatedly condemned by an overwhelming majority in the United Nations General Assembly, as well as the recent decision by the United States government, which threatens to impose tariffs on those nations that supply fuel to Cuba, are illegal, inhumane and unjustified measures that seriously affect its people and violate the principles of sovereign equality, non-intervention and self-determination, pillars of the international democratic order.

No political or economic objective justifies measures that violate basic human rights.

The latest escalation against Cuba jeopardizes access to essential goods and services for its inhabitants, including water, food, medicine, and electricity. At the same time, it restricts the freedom of other countries to decide on their trade, cooperation, and exchange relationships with that nation.

The basic rules of international order reject and prohibit the use of force and unilateral economic sanctions – in their various forms – against any country, precisely because of the indiscriminate harm they cause to the population.

Decisions about Cuba, its present and its future, belong exclusively to its people.

In solidarity with the Cuban people, it is necessary to call for an end to arrogant and aggressive unilateralism, as well as to support all actions undertaken by different peoples and governments to protect the well-being, integrity, and human dignity in Cuba.

Respect for the sovereignty of countries – which originally and always resides in the people – must continue to be the cornerstone of coexistence between nations and of aspirations to achieve a more just and peaceful world.