Brussels – While the world watches the escalation in the Middle East with growing concern, a new “flotilla” puts the spotlight on Cuba’s never-ending crisis, a country worn down by an embargo lasting over half a century and to which Donald Trump is attempting, amid the indifference of the international community, to deal the final blow. The European delegation setting off today (17 March) for Havana has chosen to join the Our America Convoy to Cuba, a humanitarian mission to deliver medicines and essential supplies to the Cuban people. Among them are four elected Members of the European Parliament, all four from the Left group: Ilaria Salis and Mimmo Lucano from Italy, Marc Botenga from Belgium, and Emma Fourreau from France.
The European Convoy for Cuba, organised by the Agency for Cultural and Economic Exchange with Cuba (AICEC), brings together a vast international solidarity network comprising delegations from Switzerland, Italy, England, Austria, Portugal, France, Iceland, Scotland, Greece, Spain, Belgium, Cuba, Algeria, Ireland, Germany, Turkey, Bulgaria, Morocco, Sweden, and over 50 European and international solidarity associations and groups. It forms part of the “Let Cuba Breathe” campaign, launched to break the political and economic embargo that has gripped the Caribbean island and which, following renewed US threats to impose tariffs on anyone supplying oil to Cuba, has brought the socialist regime to the brink of collapse.
Countless people have rallied against the US embargo, which has been condemned dozens of times by the United Nations General Assembly – most recently in October 2025, with only the US and Israel voting against. The initiative involves civil society associations, trade unions, and political parties, as well as figures from the entertainment world (such as the Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap). Around a hundred volunteers will be setting off from Milan Malpensa in Italy. AICEC’s campaign has achieved significant results, with the fundraising exceeding 45,000 euros thanks to contributions from major international organisations and over 700 individual donors. The delegation will also be taking 5 tonnes of medicines, valued at around 500,000 euros, destined for the Cuban healthcare system. Generators and solar panels will also arrive on a humanitarian charter flight.
Delegations from all over the world are due to arrive in Havana on 21 March. Meanwhile, just last night, the Cuban authorities reported a blackout that affected the entire island and its 11 million inhabitants. A “complete outage” of the national electricity grid, the Cuban Ministry of Energy wrote on X. Power cuts have been frequent for years, but the energy crisis has worsened significantly following US intervention in Venezuela, with Washington drastically reducing the flow of Venezuelan oil to the Caribbean island.
Once again, just as with the flotilla that set sail for Gaza, there is a stark contrast between the indifference of the leaders of European institutions and member states and the mobilisation of civil society. At the end of January, the European Commission had dismissed questions about Washington’s renewed stranglehold on the island with a curt “no comment,” noting instead that “the situation in Cuba remains worrying with regard to respect for human rights.” After that, nothing.
Trump said yesterday that he would have “the honour of conquering Cuba.” Speaking to reporters at the White House, he added: “Whether I liberate it or conquer it, I think I can do whatever I want with it.” Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has opened the door to possible negotiations with Washington, insisting that they take place with respect for national sovereignty and without interference in internal affairs. According to Reuters, however, during recent talks, US officials reportedly called for the president’s removal.
English version by the Translation Service of Withub
