Opinion

The views expressed in our Opinion section belong to the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Belly of the Beast. We publish op-eds to confront prevailing narratives and elevate voices and viewpoints often excluded from coverage of Cuba and U.S.-Cuba relations.

Paul Farmer’s Nobel Peace Prize Nomination Letter for the Cuban International Medical Brigade

Paul Farmer’s Nobel Peace Prize nomination letter for Cuba’s international medical brigades highlights decades of global healthcare solidarity.

By Paul Farmer

public hospital in Havana Cuba

Sanctions Kill. I Have Watched Them Do It.

A Cuban surgeon reveals how U.S. sanctions are collapsing Cuba’s healthcare system, fueling medicine shortages, blackouts and preventable deaths.

By an Anonymous Surgeon | May 27, 2026

Fernando Bretos, marine biologist

The Embargo on Cuba Doesn't Represent American Values. But Visiting Cuba Does!

Marine biologist Fernando Bretos argues that new U.S. sanctions on Cuba deepen suffering, block scientific cooperation and threaten vital ecosystems — all while betraying core American values.

By Fernando Bretos | July 16, 2025