All day, the capture of the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, had been the main subject of conversation in his neighbourhood in Havana. During a meeting called on Saturday morning, the Cuban president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, called the incident “an unacceptable, vulgar and barbarian kidnapping”. But for the regime in Cuba, just 90 miles from Florida, the attack on Venezuela also evoked more immediate memories. He added: “I think Cuba is going to be something we’ll end up talking about because Cuba is a failing nation right now. At a pro-Maduro event across the street from the US embassy on Saturday, the Cuban president declared his country’s continuing loyalty to its ally.

Source: The Guardian January 05, 2026 08:12 UTC