The Hague, August 16, 2025. The Third Annual Meeting of Solidarity with Cuba in the Netherlands took place this Saturday afternoon at the Cuban Embassy in that European country.
The event, which brought together representatives of friendship organizations, prominent figures, and friends of the Caribbean island, began with the screening of a fragment of the documentary "Fidel is Fidel," by renowned filmmaker Roberto Chile. It captures moving images of the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, in honor of the 99th anniversary of his birth and in preparation for the commemoration of his centennial on August 13, 2026.
The keynote speaker was the Cuban Ambassador Eva Yelina Silva Walker, who offered an update on the complex economic and social situation facing Cuba, stemming from the intensification of the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed for more than six decades by the U.S. government, with the aim of reversing the socialist project and imposing a government aligned with its interests.
The diplomat referred to the growing hostility of the current US administration, which since coming to power in January of this year has implemented an arsenal of measures to strangle the Cuban economy. Among these measures, she highlighted the inclusion of Cuba on the illegal and unilateral list of states that allegedly sponsor terrorism, which carries severe sanctions for the country and third parties that trade with it, an action that contravenes fundamental principles of international law. At the same time, she explained and gave examples of the smear campaigns and media manipulation, supported by multimillion-dollar financing of subversion.
Amid this scenario, Cuba resists and creatively strives to better organize itself, perfect its model of equity and social justice, and ensure the well-being of the population, defending the social gains achieved and the values that have defined the Revolution since its triumph, such as peace, solidarity, and humanism, Silva Walker said. Highlighting the value of trust, optimism, and the unity of all Cubans, he recalled Martí's message: the war waged against us is a war of thought, let us win it with thought.
He also mentioned the priorities established by the Cuban government, emphasizing, in particular, the importance of ongoing exchanges with the people, the ethics, commitment, and example of those responsible for leadership, work with young people, the improvement of history teaching, the defense of culture and identity, and the priority of scientific and technical development to preserve national sovereignty.
A special moment of the meeting was the exhibition by Arnold van Wezel, president of the "Cuba Vive" Foundation, who displayed numerous images and objects used or acquired during his participation in the José Martí Solidarity Brigades with Cuba for more than 20 years.
A fruitful exchange was held, where the actions taken since the previous edition of the Meeting were reviewed, as well as the results of the Regional Solidarity Meeting held in Paris, France, in November 2024, attended by several participants from the Netherlands. The Declaration adopted at that meeting was discussed, and ideas for the implementation of an Action Plan from the Netherlands were proposed.
The meeting concluded with the adoption of a Final Declaration, which reaffirms unconditional support for Cuba, demands the immediate and unconditional lifting of the blockade, and the exclusion of Cuba from the spurious list of states that allegedly sponsor terrorism.
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