Tens of thousands of Cubans, including Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, protested today in the square across from the United States Embassy in Havana over the "murder of 32 Cuban soldiers" in Venezuela, demanding that the US release its imprisoned President Nicolas Maduro.
Thirty-two Cuban soldiers from Maduro's security forces were killed during a US raid on his fortified residence in Caracas, from where he was kidnapped and taken to the US to stand trial for "narco-terrorism".
The cremated bodies of the soldiers were ceremoniously welcomed to Cuba yesterday.
The demonstration in the square, called the "Anti-Imperialist Tribune", was organized by the government, at a time of once again growing tensions with the US.
"The entire country has risen. It is a strong response to those who dare to threaten the peace and sovereignty for which we have fought so hard," Cuba's Foreign Ministry wrote on the X network.
US President Donald Trump has called on Cuba to "make a deal with the US before it's too late", but has not said what kind of deal that would be.
Washington has had sanctions on Cuba since 1962 following the communist takeover three years earlier, and during Trump's presidency the sanctions have been tightened, stifling Cuba's economy, a goal the White House has openly acknowledged.
Trump has said that "Cuba will no longer live off Venezuelan oil and money," but experts say that if that happens, it could have catastrophic consequences for it.
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