Amid rising tensions with Washington, the Cuban president said the soldiers fell defending the ‘sovereignty of a sister nation’.
Published on January 15, 2026
Cuba has paid tribute to 32 of its soldiers Attack the United States Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro was kidnapped earlier this month.
The remains of soldiers who were members of Cuba’s armed forces and intelligence agencies arrived at Havana’s international airport early Thursday, in coffins draped in the Cuban flag.
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President Miguel Diaz-Canel and 94-year-old retired former Cuban leader Raul Castro were present in full military uniform to receive the remains.
Díaz-Canel earlier this week praised the soldiers, saying they “fell heroically defending the sovereignty of a sister nation”.
At Thursday’s event, Interior Minister General Lázaro Alberto Alvarez also expressed the country’s gratitude to the soldiers who “fought to the last bullet” among the US forces. 3 January attack Above the capital of Venezuela, Caracas.
“We don’t accept it with resignation; we do it with deep pride,” Alvarez said, adding that the US “will never be able to buy the dignity of the Cuban people”.
A motorcade later transferred the remains to the Ministry of the Armed Forces along Havana’s main boulevards, thousands of people paying their respects, waving flags and saluting.
Residents of the capital also lined up to pay their respects at the ministry throughout the day.
US President Donald Trump has dismissed international criticism that the raid to capture Maduro violated international law. Stress last week that he would be guided only by his “own morality.”
So it happened Rising tension All over the world, including Latin America in particular, which has a long history of US military intervention.
Tensions between the US and Cuba rose this week after Trump said he would block Venezuelan oil and money from reaching the island. Havana warning Making a deal before it’s “too late”.
Trump’s comments prompted a defiant response from Díaz-Canel, who said Cuba would defend its homeland “to the last drop of blood.”
“We are ready to maintain a serious and responsible dialogue with the various US administrations, including the current administration, based on the principles of sovereign equality, mutual respect and international law,” the Cuban president said.
He added that relations between the US and Cuba should be based on international law rather than “hostilities, threats and economic coercion”.
Meanwhile, a rally is also planned in front of the US Embassy in Havana on Friday to protest against the Trump administration’s actions in Venezuela.
Maduro, who was kidnapped by US forces along with his wife Cilia Flores, is being held in the US. Drug related chargeswhich he denies.
