Niki Franco on Cuba: The U.S. Blockade Isn’t Abstract

The deep crisis currently affecting Cuba is a direct consequence of decades of U.S. sanctions, and now it’s taking its most recent form as an oil blockade. Many people in the United States disagree with their government’s policy toward Cuba, including Niki Franco.

Franco, a Puerto Rican writer and activist living in the United States, traveled with the Nuestra América Convoy to deliver humanitarian aid and see what daily life in Cuba is like under these U.S. policies.

“I always invite people to learn about Cuba’s history of solidarity with other nations. You can look at any continent and find examples of Cuba helping others,” Niki told Belly of the Beast journalist Liz Oliva Fernández.

During the conversation, Niki reflects on her own responsibility, and that of all U.S. citizens, to understand the connection between U.S. foreign policy and the hardships endured by millions of Cubans.

TRANSCRIPT

"What's your experience been like in Cuba?" asked Liz Oliva Fernández, journalist with Belly of the Beast.

"The situation is difficult. As someone who lives in the United States, I see parallels in how the Trump administration escalates aggression domestically and also exports it to the rest of the world," said Niki Franco, Puerto Rican writer and activist.

"This year started with the attack on Venezuela, and we've seen the U.S. war against Iran. And now the blockade targeting Cuba's oil. The aggression is very clear," Franco continued.

"And I'm trying to understand how the Cuban people are adapting to this reality in their daily life. But I'm also thinking about my responsibility as someone living in the United States who doesn't agree with our government, to communicate to people back home the real impact of this aggression. The word 'blockade' doesn't mean much to most Americans. It feels abstract. Sanctions, blockade..." she said.

"But what does it mean?" Oliva Fernández asked.

"Exactly. It means there are children in hospitals who can't receive what they need. Transportation is affected. All basic services are impacted. This has a direct effect on daily life for the Cuban people," Franco said.

"How do you know that the crisis that we have been facing and surviving for so long is provoked by the sanctions, and not by the Cuban government?" the journalist asked.

"As people in the U.S., we also see the level of misinformation and propaganda. The enforcement of the blockade clearly shows a deliberate effort with direct consequences. And the U.S. government has openly admitted that this is a tactic to suffocate the Cuban people and obviously the government too," Franco said.

"They've said it themselves. This is not speculation," she added.

"Is this your first time in Cuba, Niki?" Oliva Fernández asked.

"No, I think this is my sixth time," Franco replied.

"And what have you seen? When you talk to ordinary people, what's your impression?" the journalist asked.

"The situation is extremely critical. You can definitely feel it. But what impresses me is how clear and determined people are. It's been over 60 years of this blockade. Enough is enough," Franco said.

"As a Puerto Rican, what's your perspective on this?" Oliva Fernández asked.

"There are many Puerto Ricans here in the delegation and the convoy, and for us it's very powerful. Cuba feels like an anchor, it grounds us. Cuba represents possibility. It doesn't come easy, it comes with hardship, but also with dignity and pride," the activist said.

"Why do you think the current threat against Cuba also represents a danger for the rest of the world?" the journalist asked.

"For many reasons. Over the past couple of years, especially with what we've seen in Gaza and Palestine, it's become clear globally that the threat from the U.S. is only going to deepen. This isn't just about Cuba. This is about any country that doesn't want to be controlled by the United States, any country that wants to follow its own path," Franco said.

"What's your message to people in the United States, especially young people who haven't been exposed to the reality of Cuba that isn't seen in major media outlets?" Oliva Fernández asked.

"I always invite people to learn about Cuba's history of solidarity with other nations. You can look at any continent and find examples of Cuba helping others," Franco said.

"For young people, we need to understand that all of this is connected. The billions and trillions of dollars being used to bomb countries like Iran, to suffocate Cuba, to steal oil from Venezuela, that's being done in our name. And at the same time, it's taking resources away from us," she added.

"Do you think that, with all its flaws, its strengths and its weaknesses, it's still worth defending the Cuba that exists today?" Oliva Fernández asked.

"Absolutely. I think that as young people, especially in the United States, if we don't believe that Cuba's project is worth defending, then we have no real hope of changing conditions within our system," Franco said.

"And why do you think it's worth it?" the journalist asked.

"I want to believe that future generations won't have to live in a world where the United States and gangsters in Israel get to decide what happens everywhere. That can't be the only path forward. There has to be an alternative," Franco said.

"What has Cuba taught you? What have you learned from Cuba, if anything?" Oliva Fernández asked.

“A lot. Every time I come here, every conversation I have, I learn something new. But right now, at a moment when so many young people in the United States feel pessimistic about their future and about the state of the world, being here and connecting with this level of clarity, resilience, and conviction is something we're really missing," Franco said.

"It's been very energizing to be around Cubans who remain clear and committed, even in one of the most difficult moments they've faced in a long time. That's probably my biggest takeaway right now," she concluded.