Cuban Conference Addresses Concerns of Imperialist Media Influence

In a historic gathering at Havana’s Nico Lopez University of the Communist Party of Cuba, hundreds of left-wing activists and progressive leaders convened for the third annual International Meeting of Theoretical Publications of Left-wing Parties and Movements. The conference, symbolically held at a venue named after a revolutionary martyr killed by the Batista regime in 1956, aimed to strengthen political communication and solidarity among global progressive movements facing what participants described as a new era of imperialist aggression.

The opening panel focused on geopolitical relations and their impact on left-wing movements worldwide, featuring prominent speakers from four nations at the forefront of anti-imperialist resistance.

Anil Cinar, representing the Communist Party of Turkey, launched the discussion by analyzing what he characterized as deliberate U.S. strategies to create global instability through sanctions, covert operations, and military interventions. Cinar drew connections between conflicts in Palestine, Venezuela, Cuba, Yemen, and Iran, framing them not merely as struggles for national independence but as fronts in an intensifying global class struggle. He praised Cuba’s unwavering commitment to socialism as a model for resistance movements worldwide.

Chen Yiming, Director General of the Chinese Communist Party’s Bureau of Latin America and the Caribbean publication of the People’s Daily, highlighted shifting global power dynamics, with the Global South gaining economic influence. Chen positioned China firmly within the Global South coalition, emphasizing China’s commitment to unity with nations like Cuba, Russia, Venezuela, and Vietnam. He detailed concrete plans to strengthen Sino-Cuban relations through expanded trade initiatives and wider distribution of Cuba’s socialist newspaper, Granma, throughout China.

The audience responded with particularly enthusiastic applause for Dr. David Gomez Rodriguez, Vice President of Formation and Ideology for Venezuela’s United Socialist Party. Rodriguez praised the enduring legacies of revolutionary leaders Che Guevara and Fidel Castro and celebrated joint Cuban-Venezuelan achievements in literacy campaigns and resistance against U.S.-backed coup attempts. His speech took on an urgent tone as he warned of fascism’s resurgence, emphasizing that only unified socialist and anti-imperialist movements could secure working-class victory against imperial powers.

Professor Jorge Hernandez, Director of the Center for Hemispheric and U.S. Studies at the University of Havana, concluded the panel by connecting seemingly disparate global conflicts. He characterized both the Ukraine war and the situation in Palestine as U.S. proxy conflicts designed to crush resistance and maximize corporate profits. Hernandez emphasized the critical role of left-wing media in countering imperialist narratives, summing up his message with the phrase, “people’s knowledge is people’s power.”

The significance of this conference extends beyond mere theoretical discourse. It represents a coordinated response from nations facing economic sanctions and political pressure from Western powers. Cuba itself continues to struggle under a six-decade U.S. embargo, recently intensified during the Trump administration and largely maintained under President Biden.

For Venezuela, the gathering comes amid ongoing economic challenges and diplomatic tensions following contested elections. China’s participation signals its growing influence in Latin America, a region traditionally considered within the U.S. sphere of influence. Turkey’s involvement highlights how anti-imperialist sentiment transcends geographical boundaries to form ideological alliances.

Throughout the proceedings, speakers consistently emphasized practical solidarity over rhetorical support. The conference’s location in Cuba – a nation that has maintained its socialist system despite enormous external pressure – provided both symbolic weight and practical inspiration for delegates.

As the three-day conference continues, participants will address specific strategies for countering what they view as imperialist propaganda while strengthening economic and political cooperation among progressive nations. The gathering represents one of the most significant assemblies of left-wing political publications in recent years, with particular focus on developing communication networks resistant to external disruption.

The conference concluded its opening session with a clear anti-imperialist direction expected to shape subsequent debates and resolutions, encapsulated in the quoted words of the late Venezuelan leader Hugo Chávez: “Community or nothing.”