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Protests in Venezuela and US Demand Freedom for Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores
(orinocotribune.com)
Simultaneous marches were held in Caracas and New York on Thursday, March 26, demanding the release of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady and National Assembly Deputy Cilia Flores, who are being illegally held captive in the United States. In New York City and Plaza Bolívar in Caracas, hundreds of banners flew with a single slogan, “Free the Venezuelan presidential couple.”
On Thursday, during the presidential couple’s second hearing, people from different nationalities gathered near the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. There, with banners in hand, protesters chanted slogans demanding the release of Maduro and Flores, who were kidnapped from Caracas in the early hours of January 3 by US soldiers.
In Caracas, from very early Thursday, people gathered in Plaza Bolívar, the capital city’s main square. In that emblematic place, near the statue of Liberator Simón Bolívar, a large screen displayed details about the illegal trial against the presidential couple. At every moment, in unison, the crowd chanted: “May the drums sound, release Maduro and Cilia Flores,” and “Nicolás and Cilia are our family.”
Aggression and judicial abuse
Oscar Benítez, one of the marchers, told Diario VEA, “I am a social organizer, a member of the Agrourbano Movement, and we are here to uphold our dignity, our Venezuelan, revolutionary, and peasant identity.”
Benítez and his comrades were in Plaza Bolívar to demand the release of the presidential couple. “We also demand that their rights be respected. He is the constitutionally elected president of all Venezuelans. Those two were forcibly taken from our territory, violating our sovereignty,” he said.
“Since January 3, Nicolás and Cilia have been victims of persecution, aggression, and judicial abuse by the United States under the instructions of Donald Trump,” Benítez added.
A protester in Caracas holds a poster of the Venezuelan presidential couple, with the slogan #BringThemBack, demanding their release from US imprisonment. Photo: Telesur.
“Free them”
“We just want them to release our President Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores,” said Luis Dávila, marching in Plaza Bolívar. “Here in Venezuela, and in many cities around the world, today, people are demanding their release. They are victims of a kidnapping by the US military and then by a court that keeps them detained despite having no evidence or reasons for them to be in those conditions.”
He added that Venezuela has clearly demonstrated that it is a nation that loves peace and respects international law. “Based on these two premises, we demand the release of Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores,” Dávila said. “There is no justification for keeping them behind bars. Both the court and the judge handling the case know that they have no solid arguments to keep them detained, and yet, the injustice against Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores continues.”
Illegal trial
Orlando Vegas emphasized that he was in Plaza Bolívar “to repudiate the kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores. More than two months have passed since they were forcibly kidnapped in violation of all international law. I express my condemnation of Donald Trump and his regime.”
“That vile act committed by the Trump Cartel and his war partner Netanyahu—because Zionism cannot be separated from imperialism—was an action against the Venezuelan people to seize our resources,” Vegas highlighted. “On January 3, they attacked us militarily in the most cowardly way. They killed over 100 people, including 32 Cuban internationalists who were safeguarding President Maduro.”
“They also bombed Aragua, La Guaira, Caracas, and Miranda—killing Venezuelans,” he added. “They killed both civilians and military personnel equally. For all those reasons, we are here to demand justice and the release of Maduro and Cilia Flores.”
Regarding the trial against Nicolás Maduro, Vegas said it is completely illegal. “Our president was kidnapped. We cannot overlook that. The head of state of a constitutionally elected government in full exercise was kidnapped,” he stressed. “Therefore, all the actions that have taken place from January 3 to date, from a legal standpoint, are illegal.”
“We demand their freedom”
Nancy Mogollón, a participant in the march in Caracas, said that she would speak on behalf of all Venezuelan women. “Here, we all are supporting the swift release of President Maduro and Cilia Flores,” she said.
She added that no person who was born in Venezuela or has been living in the country for a while “can forget what was done to us on January 3, when we were invaded by US troops, who kidnapped President Maduro along with Cilia.”
“We will remain in the streets and in every community to demand their release,” Mogollón emphasized. “The US justice system itself has invented ‘evidence’ and accusations because they have nothing solid with which to charge them. The judge has dismissed so-called evidence against the two of them because, deep down, they know they have not committed any crime.”
Part of the march in Plaza Bolívar, Caracas. Photo: Telesur.
Solidarity from Brazil
Carlos Rogelio Núñez, who lives in Brazil, attended the act of solidarity and support for the release of President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores.
Núñez is a member of the board of the Workers’ Central of Brazil. “We are here in the Liberator Simón Bolívar Square to express the solidarity of the people, the workers, and unions of Brazil against the United States’ injustice against President Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores.”
“The workers of Brazil condemn the various forms of violence that the United States has been committing against the people of Venezuela. As unions, we want Maduro and Cilia to return to their homeland once again,” he emphasized.
Protesters in the US demand freedom for Venezuelan presidential couple
Social movements and organizations around the world, including in Egypt, Brazil, Colombia, Belarus, and the United States, have launched the international campaign #BringThemBack. The campaign condemns the imprisonment of President Maduro and Cilia Flores as arbitrary and demands the presidential couple’s return.
In New York, activists carried out mobilizations aimed at bringing visibility to the case within the United States, expanding the conflict into the realm of global public opinion.
These expressions indicate the internationalization of the conflict, where social and political actors dispute the narrative about the legitimacy of the ongoing judicial process.
Protesters in New York demand the release of President Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores from US imprisonment. Photo: Telesur.
From the early hours of Thursday, protesters camped outside the New York court where President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were to appear.
According to the protesters, the kidnapping of Maduro and Flores represents a precedent in international relations, as it involves the unlawful capture of a sitting head of state through a foreign military invasion.
Thursday, March 26, marked almost three months since the kidnapping, and the presidential couple’s second hearing was held in a climate of deep legal controversy. A declassified secret memorandum, dated days before the invasion, revealed that the US Department of Justice used the narrative of the non-existent Cartel de los Soles to justify the military aggression. However, these claims have lost strength as they were dropped from the formal charges. The omission of these charges suggests that the legal framework of the US case contains significant cracks, making this trial one of the most atypical and questionable judicial processes in modern history.
(Diario VEA) by Carlos Batatin, with Orinoco Tribune content
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/SC/SF
From Orinoco Tribune – News and opinion pieces about Venezuela and beyond via This RSS Feed.
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Terror Alarm: Inside the Shady Israeli Group Crowdfunding the Kidnapping of Dr. Marandi
(orinocotribune.com)
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This article by Gustavo Castillo originally appeared in the March 28, 2026 edition of La Jornada, Mexico’s premier left wing daily newspaper.
Havana. The two sailboats carrying humanitarian aid that disappeared en route to Cuba have been located and their crews are “safe,” organizers of the convoy said Saturday, adding that the mission is continuing. This was also confirmed by the Mexican Navy (Semar) in a statement.
Since Thursday, the Navy had deployed an operation to find the whereabouts of these boats that had departed a week ago from Isla Mujeres, in the southeast of the country.
The ships were part of an international convoy that wants to send 50 tons of medical supplies, food, solar panels and other goods to the needy Cuban population.
The Mexican Navy (Semar) reported that an aircraft located “the catamaran-type vessels that were being searched for in the Caribbean.”
“They were located 80 nautical miles northwest of Havana, Cuba.”
After locating the vessels, a Navy ship “is heading to the area to provide support. Radio communication is being maintained” with the vessels that departed from Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo, on March 20, he said.
A spokesperson for the Nuestra America convoy confirmed the location: “We are relieved to confirm that the two sailboats have been located by the Mexican Navy. The crews are safe and the ships are continuing their journey to Havana.”
“The convoy is still en route to complete its mission: to deliver urgently needed humanitarian aid to the Cuban people,” said the spokesman, who thanked Mexican and Cuban authorities for their “support, coordination and professionalism.”
Contradictory Communications
On the eve of the incident, conflicting statements from Mexico and the United States generated further uncertainty about the fate of the two sailboats, named Friend Ship and Tiger Moth.
Earlier in the day, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum had declared that the “search” for the two boats was continuing.
A Mexican navy ship “made contact with them and after a few hours lost contact,” the president explained at a press conference in Mexico City.
However, at approximately the same time, the United States Coast Guard told AFP that “it had received a report at 10:36 (08:36 Central Mexico time) that the two vessels transited safely to Cuba.”
Later, the same service issued another statement clarifying that it is not participating in the search, which is being led by the Mexican Navy and Cuban authorities.
As evening fell, Cuban and Mexican authorities had not confirmed a sighting of the vessels.
“From our country we are doing everything possible in the search and rescue of these brothers in arms,” said Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel.
The Mexican navy did not specify the identity or nationalities of the crew members, but stressed that it was maintaining communication with rescue agencies in Poland, France, Cuba and the United States.
The Huasteco ship, from the Mexican navy, arrived in Havana this Friday from Mexico with 111 tons of food and other donations collected by Mexican civil organizations, Cuban television reported.
This is the fourth shipment of humanitarian aid sent to the island since mid-February by the Sheinbaum government, which has already delivered more than three thousand tons of supplies to the country, such as milk, meat products, beans, rice and personal hygiene items.
“Mexico and the president of Mexico have no idea how many Cubans would like to personally thank their president for everything she has done for Cuba during these times,” Díaz-Canel said in an interview he gave Thursday to the Mexican newspaper La Jornada.
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Mexican Navy Locates Two Sailboats Carrying Aid to Cuba
March 28, 2026
“The convoy is still en route to complete its mission: to deliver urgently needed humanitarian aid to the Cuban people,” said Nuestra America’s spokesman, who thanked Mexican and Cuban authorities for their “support, coordination and professionalism.”
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PEMEX & Energy Security in the Face of the International Crisis
March 27, 2026March 27, 2026
In Mexico, energy is a public good provided by the State to ensure the continuity, reliability, accessibility, affordability, and sustainability of fuel and electricity supply as pillars of development.
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People’s Mañanera March 27
March 27, 2026March 27, 2026
President Sheinbaum’s daily press conference, with comments on disappearances, Cuba, and the US military crossing into Nogales, Sonora.
The post Mexican Navy Locates Two Sailboats Carrying Aid to Cuba appeared first on Mexico Solidarity Media.
From Mexico Solidarity Media via This RSS Feed.
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“Mexico is the sister land that has always stood by Cuba, in good times & bad.”
(mexicosolidarity.com)
This interview with President of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, by Luis Hernández Navarro was originally published in the March 26, 2026 edition of La Jornada, Mexico’s premier left wing daily newspaper.
Havana. The essence of the close relationship between Mexico and Cuba, according to President Miguel Díaz-Canel, is summarized in the title of a play he presented in these lands: Amor con amor se paga.
The son of a teacher and a disciplined worker, the president explains in an exclusive interview with La Jornada that the US anger against the island stems from its insatiable colonial appetite and the fact that, in 67 years of revolution, Washington has not been able to seize the Caribbean nation.
Díaz-Canel details how talks between Washington and Havana have progressed within a framework of respect for the sovereignty and political systems of both countries.
Visibly moved, he said: “To Mexico, to the Mexican people, to the Mexican government, all our admiration, our respect, our affection, and our commitment. And in particular to Claudia, the Mexican president, who has demonstrated unwavering conviction, unwavering principles, courage, and gallantry. Thank you, Mexico! A thousand times thank you for always standing by Cuba’s side in our nation’s most difficult moments.”
Mr. President, you were born in 1960. The revolution had already triumphed. You have lived your entire life under an economic blockade. What’s new about the fuel embargo? How can you explain to the world the US’s anger against the island?
You’ve made a very accurate observation. I was born in 1960, in the early years of the revolution. By a coincidence of historical dates, I turned one the day after the victory at Playa Girón. But 80 percent of the Cuban population was born after the revolution. Therefore, 80 percent have lived their entire lives under the blockade. My children, our children, have lived under the blockade. Our grandchildren were born under the blockade.
This anger, this hegemonic conception of the blockade and the confrontation between a power like the United States and Cuba, has historical precedents and contextual factors. Among these historical precedents, it is clear that the United States’ desire has always been to seize control of Cuba.
Regarding the elements of the current context, we must first acknowledge the weakening of the hegemonic power that the United States has wielded over the world, due to the emergence of powers that champion multilateralism and offer alternative relationships for nations. Furthermore, a multidimensional crisis of the capitalist system always makes it more aggressive and ultraconservative. It acts in a more irrational and fascist manner. I believe we are witnessing a resurgence of fascism. Consequently, this attitude leads to the unpopularity of anyone who defends their self-determination, promotes a different model, and refuses to be crushed by imperial designs. Such individuals are then attacked in various ways: through economic, political, and diplomatic pressure, as well as media manipulation.
Cuba has lived under blockade for 67 years. However, in the midst of this siege, it has managed to build a just society. A society with unity, convictions, and principles. Many people question Cuba’s economic policies, but it is the Cuban economy, under siege, that has been able to sustain an enormous social program. This has generated a feeling of admiration and recognition of our resistance. But it is not just resistance; it is creative resistance. By resisting, we have been able to build, advance, and develop. The imperialists have not liked that.
Photo: Marco Peláez
In very recent times, this blockade has intensified. This began with the first stage of the Trump administration, which implemented more than 240 measures against Cuba in the second half of 2019, deepening the embargo. They even included us on a list of countries that supposedly support terrorism, which cut off all avenues of financing for the country and led us to a very difficult situation. What we are experiencing is the culmination of 67 years of the blockade and its intensification. The Biden administration maintained this policy.
As the situation worsened, they began cutting off our energy sources, our sources of foreign currency, and restricting tourism. There was enormous pressure on the work of the Cuban medical brigades. In the midst of all this, we faced COVID-19 and had to overcome it with Cuban ingenuity, with Cuban vaccines, with technologies developed by Cuba. We have also experienced the effects of natural disasters. In short, we have lived through a crisis that has brutally impacted the reality of our people and their daily lives, caused by the blockade, COVID-19, and natural disasters.
Now we turn to the events in Venezuela. What happened on January 3rd in Venezuela is a watershed moment for the world. It demonstrates how a superpower, driven by its unbridled desire to exert its hegemony, kidnaps a president and removes him from the country to frame him for a trial in the United States based on lies, fabrications, and slander. In the midst of this situation, they restrict fuel shipments to Cuba. On January 29th, an executive order is issued, declaring Cuba an unusual and extraordinary threat to the security of the United States. This is yet another slander, another completely fabricated story.
It’s been almost four months since we last received a drop of fuel. In this situation, it’s very difficult to develop the economy and the lives of a people. But the country endures, it functions, it continues to dream, to plan, and it aspires to achieve greater social justice in order to overcome this situation with determination.
The biggest failure of the United States government in these 67 years of revolution is its inability to seize control of Cuba. That provokes anger. I want to identify that feeling with something the army general explained many years ago: when the revolution triumphed and began to implement a series of measures aimed at independence, sovereignty, and social justice, when it passed the Agrarian Reform Law, it crossed the Rubicon. From then on, they never forgave us for the revolution’s progress. Then came the blockade, the pressures of all these years, the intensification of the conflict, and all this history we’ve reviewed. Undoubtedly, that failure has provoked anger.
You are the son of a teacher and a brewery worker. You are an engineer. Now you are at the head of the Cuban state. Does that personal trajectory summarize the changes in Cuban society since the revolution?
Here you have familiar elements, like a typical Cuban family, which evolved during the revolution. From my mother, I have the example of a dedicated teacher. She always wanted to be a rural teacher, to work with the children of that area. I felt enormous pride in her for that. She raised me with values, also with decency, with proper behavior. My father was a laborer who got up every day at 4 in the morning to get to his job early, which was outside of Santa Clara. He always maintained a strict approach to our education.
In my family, there are figures like my grandparents. A maternal grandfather of Spanish origin, hardworking, optimistic, very poor before the revolution. A loving paternal grandmother, who was also a teacher, a great admirer of Martí. She taught me to believe in Martí. She preached in a very Martí-esque way. Her gifts were always books. She introduced me to systematic reading. An aunt, the daughter of the poet Navarro Luna, influenced my development, even as a communist activist. Furthermore, there was a harmonious family and neighborhood in the block where I lived in Santa Clara. All of that contributed to my upbringing.
I grew up with the feelings of the people. I witnessed the progress and transformations of the revolution in my childhood and youth. Therefore, I consider myself a product of that process of growth. I have an enormous commitment to ensuring that this process continues, that it keeps growing and contributing, so that we can overcome this stage in which our dreams have been stalled. I tell you this with all sincerity: I am prepared to act to the very end. I have an enormous commitment to the Cuban people, to the revolution, its leadership, and our history.
When he speaks about the energy crisis caused by the US strangulation, he does so as an engineer. He has explained to us how there is a crisis in the energy generation model, how they depend on large thermoelectric plants, but how they are changing that pattern with photovoltaic energy. However, the backbone of generation remains thermoelectric plants, which need oil, and Cuba produces only 40 percent of the crude oil it requires. What will they do to solve that problem?
A very interesting question. We do not relinquish our right, like any country in the world, to receive fuel supplies. We do not cover all our electricity generation needs with domestic production. Furthermore, fuel is needed for other economic activities and for the daily life of the country. The energy blockade is, above all, a flagrant violation of our human rights as a people, and a violation of international law. It even goes against the logic of capitalism. They, who talk so much about free trade and the free market, are imposing a criminal energy blockade on us.
There are three directions here. One is to continue developing our energy transition strategy towards renewable sources, which includes not only photovoltaics and hydroelectric power, but also other native sources we are studying. This also includes the use of biomass in power plants that operate on it, and the use of biogas. There is a whole strategy in place in that regard.
Luis Hernández Navarro of La Jornada & President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel Photo: Marco Peláez
We are also working to further incentivize domestic crude oil and associated gas production. To that end, we are pursuing a strategy of increasing oil well prospecting and exploration, as well as improving our extraction processes. In the first two months of the year, we have been able to halt the decline we had been experiencing in domestic crude oil and associated gas production.
Furthermore, by turning to science, we have found solutions to improve the processing of our domestic crude oil, which is heavy and has a high sulfur content. Nevertheless, we will still have a dependence on hydrocarbon imports, which will decrease as we progress. To this end, we are seeking to build energy cooperation alliances with sister nations. In addition, we are exploring commercial projects that will allow us to diversify and expand our fuel suppliers, with countries that respect Cuba’s sovereignty and are willing to face the challenges of this energy blockade.
Another point is denouncing this genocidal blockade before international organizations, a blockade that violates the human rights of the Cuban people and condemns them to severe limitations. A fourth element is promoting South-South energy cooperation, which would allow for technology transfers, exchanges, and faster progress on all these proposals.
These are our visions, our aspirations. Doing so under these conditions of the US energy blockade is very difficult. But we have solidarity. Last week we received a convoy of members of the solidarity movement with Cuba. We have many people who are buying panels and photovoltaic systems and bringing them to Cuba. The private sector in Cuba itself, with a strong commitment to social responsibility, is promoting renewable energy projects. We have also given this private sector the ability to import fuel to power a range of processes. The private sector can import fuel, and it is doing so.
Socialist countries with communist parties running the state, such as China or Vietnam, have undertaken economic reforms to introduce market mechanisms. Is that on the Cuban agenda?
We maintain a broad relationship with Vietnam and China, countries under construction of socialism. We have a bond of political parties, governments, and peoples. They are nations that are very supportive of Cuba. Our three countries systematically exchange information about their reform processes: China’s, Vietnam’s, and, in our case, the updating of our economic and social model.
The Chinese and Vietnamese have repeatedly emphasized that their reforms and processes have unique characteristics specific to China and Vietnam. We, too, have our own unique characteristics. We are an island nation, a small island, located 90 miles from the United States and heavily blockaded. We have developed significant human capital and a skilled workforce. We have well-established universal education and healthcare systems, and a level of scientific and technological development that distinguishes us and gives us strength.
We are carrying out a process of updating our economic and social model, which began or was deepened at the Sixth Party Congress. We have achieved a series of transformations that we seek to accelerate, with Cuban characteristics. It is not about copying. It is a Cuban system, but one that shares elements with the Chinese and Vietnamese models. For example, the leadership of the Communist Party, as the guiding force of society, is enshrined in our Constitution. A strong state. An efficient government. An agile public administration, freed from bureaucracy. A proper relationship between centralized planning and the market. The necessary market regulations to prevent speculation. Harmony between the state and non-state sectors. That all economic actors contribute to the country’s economic and social development.
This combination of elements should allow us to achieve sustainable, socially just, inclusive, and equitable development. It should enable us to achieve food sovereignty, strengthen science and innovation, and develop digital transformation and artificial intelligence processes in our society. We must continue to strengthen universal public social services, guarantee the rights to education, health, sports, and culture, and boost our economy in every sector, while maintaining international cooperation. That is the direction we are heading. We are doing so under very difficult conditions, because all of this entails investment, requires transformations, and dismantling bureaucracies and ingrained habits. And we are doing it amidst a situation of being under siege, with the blockade intensifying.
You announced the possibility that Cubans living outside the island could invest. Are there specific guidelines on how this investment would work? Isn’t there a risk of social stratification?
We have evaluated all of these factors. We must acknowledge that in recent years the number of Cubans and Cuban families residing abroad, whether temporarily or for longer periods, has increased. Our government is committed to listening to them, welcoming them, providing them with services and support, and giving them the opportunity to participate in our economic and social model and contribute to the country’s development.
This has been a long-standing effort. Fidel, in 1978, initiated a dialogue with the Cuban community abroad. This was followed by four conferences on the nation and immigration. There has been an ongoing exchange. Lately, we have been holding meetings in countries with Cuban communities, at the regional level. When we make working visits abroad, we meet with representatives of Cuban residents. We have a dossier of proposals, aspirations, motivations, projects, and concerns that we have analyzed and presented.
That analysis led us to improve our policy, to refine and update it for Cubans residing abroad, where we made several things more flexible. Many of these changes relate to their investments in our country.
Photo: Marco Peláez
Their investment in our country is carried out in accordance with our legal framework. There is oversight and regulations in place, just as foreign investment from any entity must comply with, or as companies, both private and state-owned, must comply with in our country.
All our observations are important to prevent the involvement of Cubans residing abroad with capital subservient to the interests of circles outside Cuba, linked to policies seeking to change the sociopolitical system or to subversive programs. We must maintain vigilance and control.
I believe that with the unity that exists in our people, with ideological clarity and with the defense of the legality of the country, and also, with the understanding of those who come with a commitment to participate in the development of their nation, this whole process can be feasible and beneficial.
Regarding the talks with the United States, you have established a critical path: initiating conversations, aligning agendas, advancing on possible solutions, and then implementing them. Always, you say, within the framework of respect for sovereignty and respectful treatment. Where are you at on that path, and who are the actors participating?
At this time, there has been a conversation between Cuban officials and State Department officials, which was facilitated by international factors.
He’s not going to tell us what they are…
No. These processes are very sensitive. They have to do with bilateral relations and ties between countries, with the whole history of misunderstandings.
Although the Vatican has played a role in the past.
Don’t provoke me… I’m not going to say it. I believe we must respect the discretion inherent in these processes, in these conversations. As we explained, this is in line with a historical practice of the Cuban Revolution. We have always expressed our willingness to engage in dialogue with the United States on any issue, but always based on respect for both political systems. Respect for sovereignty, unity with a principle of reciprocity, and adherence to international law.
Now, the important thing is that both sides show the will and readiness to continue advancing the dialogue. That, on that basis, we identify the bilateral differences that we can resolve. That both sides have the will to implement measures that help and benefit both peoples. That we find areas of cooperation that allow us to confront threats and, above all, guarantee peace and security for both nations and the region. That we find ways to build spaces of understanding that allow us to move forward and move us away from confrontation. For that, we need an agenda, the willingness to develop its points, and to reach agreements. We are at that point.
Is President Díaz-Canel an obstacle to this dialogue process or is he a factor in its favour?
In Cuba, processes like these cannot be personalized. In Cuba, there is a collegial, collective leadership that is also accountable to its people. We must answer to the people, to the supreme body of the nation, which is the National Assembly of People’s Power. What I defend, what we defend collectively, is not the purpose or idea of a single individual. It is the consistent practice of the revolution.
Undoubtedly, one realizes there’s media manipulation surrounding this. Sometimes they label you, calling you more or less of a bureaucrat, an obstacle, or inflexible. I believe this is part of a media manipulation strategy used to reinforce the unconventional war against our country, a strategy that has one fundamental element: reputation assassination.
Photo: Marco Peláez
The decision to engage in dialogue with the United States is a collective one. Our political system and any decisions made by our people and parliamentary bodies are not at stake in this decision. Therefore, my continued service, or that of anyone else who may at any given time hold a position of this level of responsibility in our country, depends on the people. And it also depends on the representatives of those people in the National Assembly of People’s Power, not on the United States.
You have acknowledged that, within the context of the tightening of the noose, there is discontent and that this discontent is legitimate. Is there a way to channel it so that it can be expressed creatively? Would transformations in the mechanisms of popular representation be necessary?
Life is very hard. The Cuban people are generous, supportive, resilient, and resourceful. There are places where we’ve had blackouts lasting 30 or even 40 hours. Today, people are limited in how they get around and how they get to work because of the fuel shortage. The early mornings become labourious because, if there’s even a little electricity, it’s the time to cook, preserve food, and do a bunch of other daily chores around the house.
We’ve had to adapt the way our school year operates. This requires a significant effort from all teaching staff and affects our young people and children. Today, our healthcare system is suffering tremendously. Just look at how criminal this energy blockade is. We’re talking about a country that knows how to do these things, that has a robust healthcare system, that knows how to operate, that has the capacity, without the blockade, to avoid waiting lists for surgeries, because it has the entire system of medical institutions to do so.
In our efforts to produce food, sometimes we have the food but struggle to distribute it because we lack fuel for transportation. People have had to adapt their cooking methods. Every Cuban kitchen has become a wood-burning or charcoal stove. It’s very difficult to have that in apartment buildings. Communal kitchens have sprung up. Everyone respects each other, everyone helps out. But look at the hardships we face. I would ask, how many people could endure such a situation? Only a people like ours, who deserve a monument.
It was precisely your country’s former President, López Obrador, a great friend of Cuba, who expressed that the Cuban people deserved a monument. I believe that monument doesn’t have to be made of marble or stone. It could simply be a gesture that is within the power of the United States government and its president: lifting the blockade that violates the human rights of ten million Cubans.
So, amidst this situation, this complexity, there is dissatisfaction. No one can be happy living through all of this. To the extent that we explain and engage with the people, we can help them understand that the culprit is neither the revolution nor the Cuban government. The Cuban government does not work to upset the people. On the contrary, it works to find solutions in the midst of this very complex situation. We have a humanist vocation; this pains us deeply. We are part of this people.
It must be understood that this escalation is an act of war against the Cuban people. There is also the media manipulation that accompanies this blockade and attempts to capitalize on what could be protests against the government. Most of the dissatisfied people are dissatisfied because they have a problem, because they have suffered a prolonged blackout, because we haven’t been able to restore their electricity for days. They go to the institutions of the Party, the government, the country. They go to the institutions that represent them. They have confidence in these institutions. They go, and the leaders of these places face them. They explain things, and where possible, they try to mitigate the situation, even by involving the people.
Unfortunately, there are others who, because of these same manipulations, because money is involved, express themselves in a vandalistic manner. And that has to do with other things. It has to do with subversion, with behavior that disrupts the internal order and requires a different kind of treatment.
We have a will. And we are doing it because there have always been spaces for greater popular participation and mechanisms that we must improve. I always say: everything we do, everything we set out to do, must have a foundation in popular participation. It needs to have at least three fundamental elements. There must be spaces for people to voice their problems, raise their doubts and concerns, and make proposals. A space for the governing mechanisms and institutions to channel these proposals and make decisions. These decisions are then shared with the community, and the community, along with the institutions, participates in implementing them. And within this participatory process, there must also be popular oversight. So, there is institutional oversight, combined with popular oversight. That is a harmonious system of popular power.
With the labor adjustments we’ve had to make, people are spending more time in their communities than in their traditional workplaces, social centers, or educational institutions. Therefore, there needs to be an improvement in the work of the municipal assemblies of people’s power, at the community institutional level, and in the community-level governance structures, such as the people’s councils and district delegates, along with all community institutions. There needs to be a shift in the behavior or redesign of the activities of mass organizations, the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDRs), women’s groups, social organizations, student organizations, and even workers’ organizations, because workers are now spending more time in their communities.
There is enormous potential. We’ve been sharing this with a group of women. We’ll be sharing it tomorrow with a group of outstanding young people. We need to have systematic spaces for debate with different sectors of society. These organizations can focus on addressing all the problems that are so acutely felt in the community. If we harness all the potential of our people in each community, addressing issues of vulnerability, disadvantage, support for the school year, municipal self-sufficiency, and community-based markets, there’s an impressive field of participation, relationships, and social dynamics. That’s what we’re promoting and refining.
Is there a failed state in Cuba?
It’s a very hypocritical and unjust construct. The country that imposes a blockade to deprive you of everything and leads you to difficult situations calls you a failed state when it’s the one responsible for those problems. What a strange failed state we are! We maintain coherence, direction, harmony; we resist. As a people, we continue to come together and share solidarity with the entire world. We are not isolated. The world doesn’t recognize us as a failed state. On the contrary, what it recognizes is how we are able to continue functioning on this basis of creative resistance amidst so much coercion, so much pressure, and so much aggression. And it has to do with the strength of our people’s unity.
It’s very common for the leaders of the revolution, at any level—local, municipal, provincial, national—to visit these places and interact with the people. I myself have a system of working with comrades from the party. We systematically go to the provinces, we visit the municipalities. We’re on our second or third tour of every municipality in the country these past few years. When we go there, in addition to reviewing and analyzing economic and social development programs, we meet with the people. There are always two or three thousand people gathered in the plazas, with whom we can interact extensively. A failed state can’t do that. There are states that don’t consider themselves failed, and a president or a leader doesn’t have that opportunity to be among the people. It’s another hypocritical construct they use to try to fragment unity and distort our reality.
Mr. President, Cuba has been extraordinarily supportive of the world. It actively participated in the fight against colonialism in Africa and in national liberation struggles in Latin America. Cuban blood has been spilled on many continents. Most recently, that of the 32 heroes who defended President Maduro before he was kidnapped. Do you believe there has been reciprocity for all the solidarity they have shown?
We have offered solidarity out of conviction. There is a Martí precept that “homeland is humanity.” Fidel developed this with his concept of internationalism, of international solidarity. He took it to its highest expression. There is also the example of Che. We have never gone to a country to invade. When we have participated in actions to defend a country, it has been at that country’s request. From Angola and Africa, we only take our dead; we take no riches. We receive nothing in return but recognition. African blood runs through our veins. It is in our origins. It is in the formation of Cuban identity.
We have always stood on the side of just causes. We have defended the Palestinian people, the Sahrawi people. We defended Vietnam during the war with the United States. We have defended the integration of the Caribbean and the Americas.
And so the issue of the medical brigades, which the United States government is now so vehemently attacking, has been present. They want to portray them as a form of human trafficking. We have always stood on the side of just causes. We have defended the Palestinian people, the Sahrawi people. We defended Vietnam during the war with the United States. We have defended the integration of the Caribbean and the Americas. We have developed missions at the continental level that have allowed several countries to eliminate illiteracy using a Cuban method. Operation Miracle restored sight to millions of people in our region. We have provided free training, primarily to thousands of young people from every continent. Even amidst this complex situation, we maintain a project like the Latin American School of Medical Students.
And we have done this out of conviction. And we have received reciprocity. Cuba is not isolated, which is another narrative they are trying to impose right now. Recently, we received hundreds of people: representatives of solidarity movements, of political parties of different political persuasions, representatives of the people, and of social movements. They came and brought material aid by boat, on long voyages, using their own resources and with tremendous dedication. They brought medicine, food, and photovoltaic panels to alleviate the energy situation. But above all, they came to share their hearts and support, which gives us energy and shows us that Cuba is not isolated, that it is not alone. We have reciprocally received that support, that aid, and that interest.
And what more can be said about the Mexican people? There’s the appeal made by La Jornada, the one from UNAM, the one made by President AMLO, the way in which Mexican governors and political figures have donated part of their monthly salaries. The way in which the Mexican people have mobilized to collect and send aid to Cuba is impressive.
It seems that the genocide in Gaza sparked a new awareness among young people and a capacity for mobilization and protest. Do you think this could be extended to Cuba, or has it already happened?
It doesn’t extend to Cuba because it’s already here. Our youth, the generations that share the revolution today, were born and raised witnessing the example of the Palestinian people, suffering the genocide against them. Fidel was one of the people who, on an international scale, in international forums, most forcefully denounced the genocide against the Palestinian people. When I was a university student, there were young Palestinians studying at my faculty, and we became friends with them. Today, hundreds of young Palestinians are studying in our country, and we have met with them regularly.
What is stirring in the world as a sentiment was already a conviction among Cuban generations, and particularly among young people. Recent events among Cuban youth have further strengthened these anti-imperialist convictions. Beyond the Palestinian issue, this maturation of ideas and convictions, which is beginning to spread globally and advocates for multilateralism, against militarism and aggression, and for a more inclusive and just international economic order, takes Cuba as its point of reference. These are the values that Cuba has always defended. Without Cuban chauvinism, we have played a leading role internationally, thanks to the development of these convictions within our own national process.
The issue isn’t whether it spreads to Cuba: it already exists there. The issue is how Cuba, based on its revolutionary practice, its historical experience, and its struggle, manages to radicalize that position and contribute to its expansion and understanding among many people around the world. That’s what we can contribute.
President, to conclude: is there anything you would like to say to the people of Mexico?
That’s the most difficult question. Talking about Mexico, expressing in words the feelings we have toward Mexico, is impossible for me. I’m going to try to string together expressions that might reflect the magnitude of those feelings, which are very strong, of how Cuba and Cubans see Mexico.
Mexico is the sister nation that has always stood by Cuba, in good times and bad. The one that has always been with us, the one that has never wavered. Let us remember the 1960s, when the whole world turned its back on us due to pressure from the United States, yet Mexico remained steadfast. For Cubans, Mexico holds a very special place in their hearts. With all that history and culture, it has opened its arms to welcome Cuba’s sons and daughters on countless occasions, some of whom are among the most representative figures. From Heredia to Martí, from Mella to Fidel and the Centennial Generation. Thousands of personalities, thousands of events, thousands of anecdotes come to mind, all connected to that shared history that unites us.
José Martí
How many people stood alongside Benito Juárez during the Mexican Revolution? How many Mexicans fought in our wars of independence? Our artists? How many Cuban-Mexican families are there? It’s a deeply personal relationship.
There is a very important fact. When Martí lived in Mexico, at only 22 years old, he presented a work to the Mexican public called Amor con amor se paga (“Love is Repaid with Love”). I believe that there, in that phrase, in the title of that work, lies the essence of our deep relationship. To Mexico, to the Mexican people, to the Mexican government, all our admiration, our respect, our affection, and our commitment. And in particular to Claudia, the Mexican president, who has demonstrated unwavering convictions, unwavering principles, courage, and gallantry. Mexico and the president of Mexico have no idea how many Cubans would like to personally thank their president for everything she has done for Cuba during these times. We feel tremendous respect and tremendous admiration for her and for her people.
Thank you, Mexico! A thousand times thank you for always standing by Cuba’s side in our nation’s most difficult moments.
Many thanks to La Jornada, Carmen Lira, and her entire team. It’s a tremendous opportunity for us to be able to reach out to their readers as well.
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“Mexico is the sister land that has always stood by Cuba, in good times & bad.”
March 27, 2026March 27, 2026
An interview with President of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, by Luis Hernández Navarro of La Jornada.
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“Off with their Event!” Private Parque Lira Party Pulverized
March 27, 2026March 27, 2026
Facing organized opposition from neighbours, social concern over creeping privatization of public parks & increased city scrutiny, the company producing an Alice in Wonderland event has canceled it.
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Mexican Navy Searching for Two Nuestra América Convoy Sailboats That Disappeared in Caribbean en Route to Cuba
March 27, 2026March 27, 2026
The two vessels, carrying humanitarian aid and nine crew members, set sail on March 20th from Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo and were scheduled to arrive between March 24th and 25th.
The post “Mexico is the sister land that has always stood by Cuba, in good times & bad.” appeared first on Mexico Solidarity Media.
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Mexican Navy Searching for Two Nuestra América Flotilla Sailboats That Disappeared in Caribbean en Route to Cuba
(mexicosolidarity.com)
This article by Daniela Wachauf originally appeared in the March 26, 2026 edition of El Universal.
The Mexican Navy (SEMAR) reported that it activated the Navy Plan to locate two sailboats carrying nine crew members of different nationalities, with the objective of delivering humanitarian aid in Havana, Cuba.
These ships set sail on March 20 from Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo “without any communication or confirmation of their arrival to date.”
The vessels were scheduled to arrive between March 24 and 25, so the protocols were activated, in compliance with the responsibility of the Mexican State to safeguard human life at sea.
In a statement, the agency indicated that as part of the actions implemented, the Naval Commands of the Fifth Naval Region, Ninth Naval Zone, based in Isla Mujeres and Yucalpetén, were alerted.
As well as the Naval Search, Rescue and Maritime Surveillance Stations (ENSAR) of those commands, in addition to issuing notices to the maritime community, with the purpose of expanding location capabilities.
Only two days ago, the US government murdered four people in the Caribbean (the latest atrocity in its illegal blood-soaked campaign which has killed at least 163 in the Caribbean & Pacific in over 45 air strikes) highlighting how dangerous the Caribbean is.
Also, inter-institutional coordination was established with the Port Captaincy of Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo, technical bodies for the analysis of maritime information, which allows strengthening the planning of operations and optimizing decision-making.
The Mexican Navy (SEMAR) emphasized that international coordination is maintained through communication with shipping agencies and Maritime Rescue Coordination Centers (MRCCs) in Poland, France, Cuba, and the United States, as well as diplomatic representations of the countries of origin of the people on board, in order to strengthen cooperation and the exchange of information in real time.
Regarding field operations, surface and air units have been deployed, including Persuader aircraft, which are carrying out maritime and air search patterns on the estimated route between Isla Mujeres and Havana, considering the planned course, possible points of change of course, as well as the prevailing weather conditions and sea currents in the region.
“Likewise, permanent monitoring and continuous analysis of available information is maintained, which allows for the updating of the search action plan and the definition of probable drift zones, with the aim of increasing the probability of locating the vessels,” the agency emphasized.
Furthermore, he called upon the national and international maritime community, including commercial, fishing, recreational vessels and platforms operating in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, to immediately report any information or sightings of the aforementioned vessels to the nearest naval authorities.
The actions are carried out under international search and rescue protocols, prioritizing at all times the protection of human life at sea.
The Mexican Navy reiterated its commitment to use all available resources to locate the vessels and safeguard their crews.
Adnaan Stumo, Maritime Coordinator for the Nuestra América Flotilla to Cuba, who explained in a March 20th interview before departing, that the flotilla has “to arrive as soon as possible because there are a lot of people waiting for us there.” Stumo had previously been kidnapped by israeli forces in October of last year as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla carrying aid to Gaza.
Ships Were Part of the Nuestra América Flotilla Initiative
Last Friday, March 20, EL UNIVERSAL reported that two ships from the Nuestra América Flotilla initiative, made up of 10 crew members, including a four-year-old child, were preparing to leave Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo, Mexico , bound for Cuba.
According to the mission coordinator, Adnaan Stumo, the mission consisted of two catamarans named Friends ship and Tiger moth, with between two and three tons of medicines and food supplies.
The names of the crew members are Adnaan, Alexis, Andres, Ayla, Claire, Hugo, Ira, Kun, Pierre, and the minor, who joined the departure of a larger vessel called Granma II, which had set sail from Yucatan.
A 24 meter shrimp-boat, known as the Granma II (formerly known as the Maguro) was also part of the flotilla departing from Mexico, but arrived in San Cristóbal Cuba on the morning of March 24th after an 85 hour journey.
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Mexican Navy Searching for Two Nuestra América Flotilla Sailboats That Disappeared in Caribbean en Route to Cuba
March 27, 2026March 27, 2026
The two vessels, carrying humanitarian aid and nine crew members, set sail on March 20th from Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo and were scheduled to arrive between March 24th and 25th.
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Culture | Labor | News Briefs
Mexico’s Cineteca Nacional Workers to Strike Tomorrow
March 26, 2026March 26, 2026
In February, workers held a symbolic strike, demanding an end to reprisals and labor exploitation, as well as the payment of fair wages.
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People’s Mañanera March 26
March 26, 2026March 26, 2026
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s daily press conference, with comments on electoral reform, price controls on diesel, small transport operator support, Greenpeace & the 2026 World Cup.
The post Mexican Navy Searching for Two Nuestra América Flotilla Sailboats That Disappeared in Caribbean en Route to Cuba appeared first on Mexico Solidarity Media.
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This article by Aníbal García Fernández originally appeared in the March 24, 2026 edition of Revista Contralínea.
Oil is the engine of the world and, particularly, of capitalism. However, it is a finite resource, so finite that some analyses indicate that global oil production has already passed; others place the decline in global production around 2027-2028, and still others until 2040. Mexico has just over nine years of oil reserves and seven years of gas reserves remaining. Therefore, it is important to strengthen energy sovereignty, but even more so, energy security.
On March 18, 1938, Mexico opposed the continued privatization of its resources. This date is significant because it marked an international milestone with the expropriation of oil from U.S. companies; it also ended a years-long conflict with oil workers and served as a precedent for future expropriations in other countries.
The oil expropriation is deeply linked to the Mexican Constitution and the application of Article 27. As Lorenzo Meyer mentioned in his book Las raíces del nacionalismo petrolero en México (“The Roots of Oil Nationalism in Mexico”), after the Mexican Revolution the United States government interpreted that, if the 1917 Constitution were implemented, “not only would the material interests of American capitalists have been affected, but even their political hegemony would have been reduced in their still small but growing area of influence.”
It is under this interpretation that the application of the Mexican Constitution, from its inception, has served as a bulwark against the hegemony of the neighboring country, as it protects national resources and sovereignty. This explains why successive governments of that nation have made countless efforts to amend it, particularly Article 27, along with Articles 25 and 28, which regulate energy in our country and the economic model. These efforts, of course, include the Mexican political and economic elite who subscribe to these unpatriotic principles.
However, energy security is equally important. Its defining element is the relationship between hydrocarbon reserves and production in our country. But it must be clear that energy security goes beyond this, considering energy a public good provided by the State to ensure the continuity, reliability, accessibility, affordability, and sustainability of fuel and electricity supply as pillars of development.
Perhaps, as a result of international events, it will become increasingly relevant to consider minerals as part of energy security, but that is another topic for future discussion.
Oil Reserves & Production in Mexico
Mexico has 9.8 years of oil reserves remaining. According to data from PEMEX’s Directorate of Planning, Coordination, Performance, and Sustainability, proven crude oil reserves in 2024 are 5.293 billion barrels of oil equivalent . Meanwhile, oil production, according to the state-owned company, is 1,485 barrels per day. Therefore, in scenario “A,” where no new reserves are added and the current production rate is maintained, Mexico has oil reserves until 2033.
If probable reserves (which have a recovery confidence level of 50 percent or more) are added, and with the same rate of oil production, Mexico has 17 more years .
It is important to remember that the country’s oil production peaked in 2004, reaching a maximum output of over 3,380 barrels per day. From then on, production declined, as did reserves, as shown in Figure 1.
Chart 1. Crude oil reserves by six-year term
However, the outlook for gas is not so different. Mexico’s reserves are only 7.3 years long, considering proven reserves in 2024 and production for the same year. If probable reserves are included, the national reserves would be 13 years long, that is, until 2037.
The main culprits for the loss of sovereignty and energy security are the PRI and PAN governments, which prioritized the export of crude oil, the loss of oil transformation processes, the division of the petrochemical industry, and the division of PEMEX to bankrupt it.
To illustrate the above, during the neoliberal period, according to the agency’s data, 562 oil wells were drilled under Carlos Salinas, producing 13.25 million barrels per day; under Ernesto Zedillo, 1,089 wells were drilled, producing 17.486 million barrels per day. However, the extractive focus was on Felipe Calderón — a illegitimate president, as President Sheinbaum has stated — since during his six-year term, 6,211 wells were drilled, and production barely reached 16.146 million barrels per day .
With President López Obrador and the program to recover sovereignty, but above all, energy security (a broader concept and just as important as sovereignty), with 1,123 wells, production reached 10 million 581 thousand barrels per day.
Figure 2. Wells drilled and oil production by six-year term
Mexico has not made any major oil well discoveries. The last one was Cantarell in the 1970s, and under Andrés Lajous’s administration at Pemex, it was decided to inject nitrogen into it, resulting in a loss of production, and what was once the second largest oil field in the world began to decline.
Thus, the graph above shows that with Calderón and Peña Nieto, the two Presidents of the privatizing energy reforms, more oil wells were required and production declined, that is, a loss of productivity was generated.
But there is another factor: the decline of oil fields in Mexico. Viewed historically, as shown in the following graph, the country is already in a declining phase. A clear example of this situation is that in 2004, the 200 wells in Cantarell produced more than the 4,255 national wells in 2021. The difference is staggering: they produced 25 times more than in 2021.
Figure 3. Number and volume of crude oil and fields discovered (1900-2015)
According to data estimated by UNAM researchers Luca Ferrari and Diana Hernández in their text Hydrocarbons Sector: Historical Evolution, Current Situation, and Scenarios on Energy Sovereignty —published by the then-CONAHCYT in 2024—, in 2000 Cantarell accounted for 60 percent of national production with 200 wells. By 2021, the Ku, Maloob, and Zaap fields, along with the next six highest-producing fields, represented 62 percent, with 356 wells and an average production of 3,033 barrels per day. The remaining 38 percent was covered by 200 fields with 3,899 wells.
But the most relevant point is that, in 2000, the relationship between investment and daily barrel yield was considerable. For every million pesos invested, 66 barrels per day were obtained; in 2018, this figure was only 11, an 83 percent reduction; and in 2020, the yield continued to decline, as shown in the following graph .
Chart 4. Investment in Pemex for exploration and production and yield in barrels per day extracted for every million pesos invested per year
That’s why a state and a public company that guarantee the oil supply are so important, as is a public policy that views energy as a good and a service, not just a commodity. In fact, PEMEX has a National Strategy for Reactivating Closed Wells with Opportunities dating back to 2025.
The Global Energy Crisis
The global energy crisis is rarely discussed until significant international events occur, many of them geopolitical in nature. However, during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, one news item that went largely unnoticed was that of peak oil. In 2020, Rystad Energy stated that, according to its analysis, global oil demand would reach its maximum of 102 million barrels per day in 2028.
Equinor predicted a collapse in production in 2027 or 2028; the French firm Total placed it in 2030; McKinsey in 2033; and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in 2040. Beyond the companies’ analyses of international oil production data, the decline in the rate of oil reserve discovery since the 1980s is evident.
Between 1981 and 1990, the annual growth rate of international oil reserves was 3.8 percent. The following decade (1991-2000) saw a decrease to 1.9 percent; from 2001 to 2010 it increased to 2.3 percent, before declining again from 2011 to 2020 to 0.3 percent.
Easily extracted oil is running out, it is becoming increasingly expensive, the remaining reserves are more contested, and consumption, although it has slowed down, continues to grow; and the dispute pits powers with military and nuclear power against each other.
According to some analyses, our main trading partner, the United States, has six more years of oil left at the production rate and reserves of 2023. And in gas, they still have 20 more years at the production rate and proven reserves of 2024.
It is important to remember that our energy matrix relies heavily on natural gas, which is supplied by imports for 74 to 76 percent of our needs. Some of this gas is injected into the energy system to generate electricity, a significant problem of energy dependence resulting from neoliberal policies.
In his appearance before the Mexican Congress in 2025, the director of PEMEX, Dr. Víctor Rodríguez Padilla – also an expert in energy security – stated: “The vision of the President of the Republic, who is an expert in climate change and global warming, and all the measures to counteract, prevent, and adapt to climate change, is that the country’s resilience lies in not exceeding 1.8 million barrels per day. Maintaining that level of 1.8 million barrels per day is essential to stabilize income and to safeguard our dwindling oil reserves for the long term. Because, as I was saying, the transition is not easy; it is a long process, and this has been seen in Europe. We cannot accelerate the transition, no matter how much we might want to, because it would destabilize the country.”
At the 2025 Energy Forum held in August of that year in the Senate of the Republic, the director of PEMEX also opened a debate that the Mexican population needs to have: there are unconventional resources in the country that would allow us to extend national oil and gas reserves a little longer, as well as gain energy security; but it involves deciding whether or not to allow fracking with new technology.
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PEMEX & Energy Security in the Face of the International Crisis
March 27, 2026March 27, 2026
In Mexico, energy is a public good provided by the State to ensure the continuity, reliability, accessibility, affordability, and sustainability of fuel and electricity supply as pillars of development.
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People’s Mañanera March 27
March 27, 2026March 27, 2026
President Sheinbaum’s daily press conference, with comments on disappearances, Cuba, and the US military crossing into Nogales, Sonora.
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“Mexico is the sister land that has always stood by Cuba, in good times & bad.”
March 27, 2026March 27, 2026
An interview with President of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, by Luis Hernández Navarro of La Jornada.
The post PEMEX & Energy Security in the Face of the International Crisis appeared first on Mexico Solidarity Media.
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This article originally appeared in the March 27, 2026 edition of Los Reporteros.
The company Beste Templen officially withdrew from holding the “Alice in Wonderland” event in Parque Lira, after acknowledging that it lacked the necessary technical conditions and permits to guarantee its operation. The decision comes after weeks of public outcry and concerns about potential damage to the public space.
“CANCELED!!!! The private event at Parque Lira has been halted. 
Without permits for environmental, heritage, or civil protection matters, the company will have to remove its installations. Neighbourhood organization does make a difference.” Photo: Violeta Horcasitas, on X
Following the announcement, the Environmental and Territorial Planning Attorney’s Office (PAOT) temporarily lifted the suspension of activities, solely to allow for the removal of the installed furniture and structures. The authority specified that these tasks will take approximately ten days, with the goal of restoring the park to its original condition.
The agency explained that the company itself requested the cancellation of the pending permit process, deeming it unfeasible to meet the requirements in a timely manner. The PAOT reiterated that, once the dismantling work is completed, the precautionary measure will be permanently lifted.
The event had been suspended because Beste Templen lacked key environmental and heritage conservation permits, raising concerns among authorities and residents. The investigation began after 11 citizen complaints warned of risks to the site’s cultural and ecological heritage.
Among the irregularities detected, the company did not have endorsements from entities such as the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), nor permits from the local Planning Secretariat nor the environmental declaration from the Secretariat of the Environment of Mexico City.
The case also led to a class-action lawsuit filed by residents , which strengthened the PAOT’s role as the guarantor authority. With the event’s cancellation, the conflict is partially resolved, though it highlights the social pressure and lack of planning in private projects within public spaces.
Neighbours with the Lira Libre protest symbol. Photo: @RaulParedesP x
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“Mexico is the sister land that has always stood by Cuba, in good times & bad.”
March 27, 2026March 27, 2026
An interview with President of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, by Luis Hernández Navarro of La Jornada.
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“Off with their Event!” Private Parque Lira Party Pulverized
March 27, 2026March 27, 2026
Facing organized opposition from neighbours, social concern over creeping privatization of public parks & increased city scrutiny, the company producing an Alice in Wonderland event has canceled it.
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Mexican Navy Searching for Two Nuestra América Convoy Sailboats That Disappeared in Caribbean en Route to Cuba
March 27, 2026March 27, 2026
The two vessels, carrying humanitarian aid and nine crew members, set sail on March 20th from Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo and were scheduled to arrive between March 24th and 25th.
The post “Off with their Event!” Private Parque Lira Party Pulverized appeared first on Mexico Solidarity Media.
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Venezuela’s Presidential Couple Appear in New York Court; Judge Questions Legitimacy of Legal Fee Freeze
(orinocotribune.com)
Caracas (OrinocoTribune.com)—Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Deputy Cilia Flores, have appeared before the Court for the Southern District of New York for a second hearing. The proceeding was marked by a defense request to dismiss the trial on the grounds that the US government is violating the Sixth Amendment by using illegal sanctions to prevent the Venezuelan government from paying for their legal defense.
Corporate media reports indicated the hearing began this Thursday, March 26, at 11:45 a.m. after the presiding judge, Alvin Hellerstein, entered the courtroom approximately 45 minutes late. The Venezuelan presidential couple had arrived at the courthouse early that morning—around 4:00 a.m.—in a convoy of three closed, windowless vans.
A massive press presence was reported outside the court, alongside a small number of far-right Venezuelan opposition members. These were challenged by significant protests in support of the Venezuelan president outside the court, as well as demonstrations and acts of support across Venezuela and in several locations around the world, including Chicago, Seattle, and London.
President Maduro and Cilia Flores were kidnapped in Caracas on January 3, following a violent bombing of the country by the US empire that resulted in more than 100 people murdered. Hours later, the US Department of Justice leveled “drug trafficking-related” charges against them, notably omitting the fact that the widely circulated media claim that President Maduro led the fictional “Cartel of the Suns” has already been debunked.
Nearly 3 months since the US bombed Caracas & kidnapped a sitting president.
100+ killed. Nicolás Maduro & Cilia Flores seized in an illegal imperialist operation.
Now they’re blocking his right to a defense — sanctions preventing his legal team from being paid.
The world is… pic.twitter.com/0rPmNe85LZ— Orinoco Tribune (@OrinocoTribune) March 26, 2026
Judge challenges freezing of legal fees
During the session, Judge Hellerstein questioned the validity and logic of the US prosecution’s arguments for keeping legal fees frozen, and even noted that the license required for these payments may have been “arbitrarily withheld” by the US Department of the Treasury.
According to journalists present, Hellerstein prioritized due process principles over foreign policy considerations, emphasizing that the defendants’ right to a defense is paramount and supersedes US sanctions—a principle enshrined in the Sixth Amendment to the US Constitution.
“I see no permanent national security interest in the right to defend oneself,” the judge stated, refuting the position of US prosecutors who seek to prevent the Venezuelan state from paying the fees of its highest authority.
US prosecutor Kyle Wirshba attempted to justify the restriction by arguing that allowing access to these resources would undermine the nature of the illegal sanctions. This stance was met with skepticism by the judge, who questioned the appropriateness of maintaining such blockades amidst the current diplomatic rapprochement between Venezuela and the US.
Defense argues against burdening US taxpayers
The defense team, led by attorney Barry Pollack, insisted that the US government is violating constitutional rights by preventing Venezuela from covering defense costs. Pollack argued that forcing the use of public defenders would be an unnecessary financial burden on US taxpayers, given that funds are available from Venezuela. Many analysts see such an argument as a tactic building on another arbitrariness of a judicial process marked by irregularities.
The lawyer stressed that it makes no sense to exhaust public resources when there is “someone other than the US taxpayer ready, willing, and able to finance that defense.”
Judge Hellerstein acknowledged that while the government has technical authority to freeze assets, the right to due process takes precedence over national security interests. The judge hinted at the possibility of ordering the US government to unfreeze the funds for legal fees, as reported by journalist Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press covering the hearing live on social media.
Amid the media attention surrounding President Maduro’s hearing, US philanthropist Fergie Chambers, who is associated with socialist organizations, hinted at the possibility of a private citizen paying the Venezuelan president’s legal fees, and questioned whether such an action would violate US legal norms. Analysts claim that while the offer is legally valid, it might be counterproductive to the current defense strategy, which seeks a dismissal of the charges against Maduro based on the violation of his constitutional rights.
Sovereign immunity and the Noriega comparison
Legal experts claim that even if the initial process concludes without dismissal, the US prosecution will find it extremely difficult to justify the violation of President Maduro’s sovereign immunity as a sitting elected head of state.
Many analysts have compared the case to that of Manuel Noriega in Panama; however, Noriega was not a sitting head of state at the time of his capture. Others argue that simply because the US empire did not recognize President Maduro after 2018, he could be prosecuted. Nevertheless, many of the charges presented on January 5 relate to alleged incidents occurring before 2018.
Maduro reaffirms his legitimacy
According to reports, President Maduro and Deputy Flores sat next to their defense team using headphones to listen to the translation of the proceedings. The Venezuelan president reiterated his firm stance, categorically rejecting the accusations.
“I am not guilty. I am a decent man, the constitutional president of my country,” the president declared, reaffirming that his arrest and trial lack any legitimate legal basis.
Deisy Francis Mexidor, a reporter for Prensa Latina who was present, noted that the couple remained calm. “There was a really huge number of journalists,” she stated. “I saw him sit down… he was accompanied by his respective legal representatives. I saw him calm.”
President Maduro and Deputy Flores have been subjected to illegal deprivation of liberty for 83 days so far. Since their initial court appearance on January 5, 2026, they have remained in solitary confinement at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York City.
President Maduro’s Upcoming Hearing in US ‘Not an Act of Justice,’ Expert Warns
Trump’s interference in the judicial process
Prior to the hearing, Donald Trump made a number of unfounded accusatory statements, demonstrating clear interference in a judicial process already denounced as illegitimate by the defense and public opinion.
“He’s a dangerous man who has killed a lot of people,” Trump attempted to tell reporters. “He sent people to our country. He emptied the prisons in Venezuela to send them to our country… He was one of the main suppliers of the drugs that come into our country.”
These claims, uttered without any evidence whatsoever, appear intended to publicly influence a case originating from a violent and illegal US colonial military operation.
Below are some exclusive photos of the protests outside the court in support of President Maduro and Deputy Flores, courtesy of Gloria Grillo:
Special for Orinoco Tribune by staff
OT/JRE/AU
From Orinoco Tribune – News and opinion pieces about Venezuela and beyond via This RSS Feed.
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Why Has China Remained Stable Amid Soaring Global Oil Prices?: People’s Daily Rui Ping
(orinocotribune.com)
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This article originally appeared in the March 26, 2026 edition of La Jornada, Mexico’s premier left wing daily newspaper.
Mexico City. Mexico’s Cineteca Collective and Workers have called for a work stoppage and a public demonstration tomorrow, Friday, at the headquarters located at México Coyoacán 389, Colonia Xoco, after their request for hiring has not been resolved.
In the document shared by the collective, they ask for the support of the public to join and bring their banners; it was also reported that members of the Collective will share their experiences and dialogues will be held with specialists in labour law.
The meeting is at 11:00 this Friday so that the work stoppage can begin at 11:30 at all Cineteca locations.
Afterwards, a press conference will follow where the workers will explain their working conditions, and the manifesto and the list of demands of the collective will also be read.
Talks will also be held from 1 p.m. onwards, addressing topics such as the importance of rights and labor malfeasance. The protest is planned to end at 6 p.m.
The demonstration can also be followed live through the Instagram account @colectivacinetecanacional.
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Mexican Navy Searching for Two Nuestra América Flotilla Sailboats That Disappeared in Caribbean en Route to Cuba
March 27, 2026March 27, 2026
The two vessels, carrying humanitarian aid and nine crew members, set sail on March 20th from Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo and were scheduled to arrive between March 24th and 25th.
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Culture | Labor | News Briefs
Mexico’s Cineteca Nacional Workers to Strike Tomorrow
March 26, 2026March 26, 2026
In February, workers held a symbolic strike, demanding an end to reprisals and labor exploitation, as well as the payment of fair wages.
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People’s Mañanera March 26
March 26, 2026March 26, 2026
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s daily press conference, with comments on electoral reform, price controls on diesel, small transport operator support, Greenpeace & the 2026 World Cup.
The post Mexico’s Cineteca Nacional Workers to Strike Tomorrow appeared first on Mexico Solidarity Media.
From Mexico Solidarity Media via This RSS Feed.
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Every day, President Claudia Sheinbaum gives a morning presidential press conference and Mexico Solidarity Media posts English language summaries, translated by Mexico Solidarity’s Pedro Gellert. Previous press conference summaries are available here.
Plan B advances: privileges end and money returned to the peoplePresident Claudia Sheinbaum noted that the Plan B Electoral Reform was approved in its central planks: eliminating privileges and reducing excessive perks to redirect resources to health, education, and wellbeing. Meanwhile, the Chamber of Deputies approved the end of “golden pensions”, where some officials received more than the country’s president earns, reaffirming that public money is not for luxuries.
In relation to the recall referendum —rejected in the Senate— Sheinbaum said that “this is bad for the country,” because the decision responded to political concerns and was not based on substantive arguments, despite it being a mechanism that facilitates citizen participation in the political process.
Economy with justice: diesel price controls to curb inflationA voluntary cap of 28.50 pesos (US$1.60) per liter for diesel was established, recognizing that it is still high but with the goal of continuing to bring the price down. The President stressed that diesel is the main fuel used in freight transport, so controlling its cost is key to preventing increases in the price of basic goods.
National industry and economic justice: modernizing transportation for the peopleThe Ministry of the Economy is promoting a program with four pillars: tax incentives, guarantees, a new safety standard, and import regulations, with 2 billion pesos (US$112.33 million) earmarked for support and 250 million pesos (US$14.04 million) for financing. It is aimed at small transport operators and seeks to renew up to 60% of the fleet, protect more than 200,000 jobs, and strengthen an industry that moves more than 80% of goods in the country.
Truth against disinformationThe President denied the veracity of the photo circulated by Greenpeace, saying it has no scientific basis and was not even a satellite image of its own. She reported that the spill is being addressed by Pemex, the Navy, and the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat), with containment efforts, beach cleanup, and support for fishermen, while the Navy investigates the source of the incident.
World Cup 2026: sport for the peopleNational Street Soccer and Juggling Day kicked off with the presence of 700,000 young women across the country, promoting participation on recovered courts. The push for sports is comprehensive: more than 2,300 senior citizens participate in safe formats and more than one million children compete nationally in school tournaments.
In the State of Mexico, Governor Delfina Gómez will refurbish 680 venues in the state’s 125 municipalities, while in Mexico City, Head of Government Clara Brugada reported 200 rehabilitated courts and festivities for the World Cup.
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Mexican Navy Searching for Two Nuestra América Flotilla Sailboats That Disappeared in Caribbean en Route to Cuba
March 27, 2026March 27, 2026
The two vessels, carrying humanitarian aid and nine crew members, set sail on March 20th from Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo and were scheduled to arrive between March 24th and 25th.
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Culture | Labor | News Briefs
Mexico’s Cineteca Nacional Workers to Strike Tomorrow
March 26, 2026March 26, 2026
In February, workers held a symbolic strike, demanding an end to reprisals and labor exploitation, as well as the payment of fair wages.
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People’s Mañanera March 26
March 26, 2026March 26, 2026
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s daily press conference, with comments on electoral reform, price controls on diesel, small transport operator support, Greenpeace & the 2026 World Cup.
The post People’s Mañanera March 26 appeared first on Mexico Solidarity Media.
From Mexico Solidarity Media via This RSS Feed.
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Every day, President Claudia Sheinbaum gives a morning presidential press conference and Mexico Solidarity Media posts English language summaries, translated by Mexico Solidarity’s Pedro Gellert. Previous press conference summaries are available here.
Missing persons/forced disappearances: truth, data, and state actionPresident Claudia Sheinbaum presented a report on the search for missing persons. Since 2018, the registry totals 394,645 cases (dating back to 1952). Of these, 262,111 persons have been located, 96% with no link to a crime, challenging alarmist narratives. Currently, there are more than 132,000 people still missing, of whom 130,178 correspond to the period after 2006, an era marked by a failed security strategy.
The phenomenon is tied to two stages: the “Dirty War” (1950s–90s) and the violence since 2006. In response to this legacy, the government is promoting scientific methodologies, data analysis, and the obligation to investigate every case, breaking with historical impunity.
Technology, the State, and justice in actionThe Mexican government highlighted a combination of technology and institutional action. This includes a Single Identity Platform, a forensic database, new teams, and a National Alert system that activates 512 institutions to speed up searches. At the same time, the State’s role is being strengthened (100 specialists, new protocols, and a commissioner), with ongoing collaboration with civil society groups and efforts to prevent youth being recruited by organized crime.
Search efforts in the Caribbean: tracking vessels with humanitarian aidPresident Sheinbaum reported that the Navy continues searching for two Mexican vessels carrying humanitarian aid to Cuba after losing contact. She explained that the Navy had been tracking three vessels, one of which has already arrived in Cuba, while operations continue in order to locate the other two.
Firm sovereignty: no intervention and territorial controlThe President clarified that the crossing of U.S. military personnel into Mexico in Nogales was minimal—just a few meters—unintentional, and that they withdrew immediately after notification, ruling out any violation or intervention in national territory.
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People’s Mañanera March 27
March 27, 2026March 27, 2026
President Sheinbaum’s daily press conference, with comments on disappearances, Cuba, and the US military crossing into Nogales, Sonora.
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“Mexico is the sister land that has always stood by Cuba, in good times & bad.”
March 27, 2026March 27, 2026
An interview with President of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, by Luis Hernández Navarro of La Jornada.
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“Off with their Event!” Private Parque Lira Party Pulverized
March 27, 2026March 27, 2026
Facing organized opposition from neighbours, social concern over creeping privatization of public parks & increased city scrutiny, the company producing an Alice in Wonderland event has canceled it.
The post People’s Mañanera March 27 appeared first on Mexico Solidarity Media.
From Mexico Solidarity Media via This RSS Feed.
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US Sanctions on Venezuela Continue: Corporate Beneficiaries and a Targeted Society
(orinocotribune.com)
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President Maduro’s Upcoming Hearing in US ‘Not an Act of Justice,’ Expert Warns
(orinocotribune.com)
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Venezuela Extends Deadline for Selecting Ombudsperson & Attorney General (+Ernesto Villegas)
(orinocotribune.com)
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