International Coalition Launches Nuestra América Flotilla to Aid Cuba Amid US Embargo

An international coalition of social movements and humanitarian organizations has announced the launch of the Nuestra América Flotilla, a maritime mission aimed at delivering essential supplies to communities in Cuba facing dire shortages due to the ongoing US embargo. The flotilla is set to sail across the Caribbean Sea next month, responding to an increasingly critical humanitarian situation affecting hospitals, transportation, and daily life on the island. The United Nations General Assembly has voted approximately thirty times since 1992 calling for an end to the US economic embargo on Cuba, with the most recent resolution passed in October 2025. The blockade has severely affected Cuba's economy, interrupting fuel imports, grounding flights, and imposing emergency measures that have led to widespread blackouts and limited access to fuel, impacting households and critical infrastructure. David Adler, from the Progressive International collective, highlighted the motivation behind the flotilla: "We prepare to sail to Cuba for the same reason we traveled in the Global Sumud Flotilla to Gaza, to break the blockade, bring food and medicines, and show that solidarity can cross any border or sea." This initiative mirrors previous humanitarian missions organized to bring assistance to Gaza amid its own blockade challenges. The situation in Cuba, exacerbated by the tightening of US sanctions, results in empty pharmacies, canceled flights, and families struggling without electricity. Alder emphasizes that the goal of the flotilla extends beyond delivering aid; it aims to send a message of solidarity to the Cuban people, demonstrating that they are not alone in their struggle. Thiago Avila from the coordination committee of the Global Sumud Flotilla pointed out that both Cubans and Gazans suffer the consequences of collective punishment. "Our mission is not solely to provide aid but to affirm that solidarity transcends borders," Avila stated. British parliamentarian Jeremy Corbyn, also part of the Progressive International, criticized the long-standing US blockade as a method of stifling Cuba's development, noting the significant progress the island has made in healthcare and quality of life despite economic pressures. The coalition launched a website to gather support and plans to hold an assembly next Sunday to coordinate logistics, volunteers, and humanitarian supplies. Support for the Nuestra América Flotilla is growing, with voices from across the globe backing the initiative. US Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib and Colombian Deputy María Fernanda Carrascal underscored the moral imperative of providing solidarity to nations suffering under foreign restrictions. Former Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau remarked that she hopes the flotilla will ignite a global movement to urge governments to end the embargo. As the flotilla prepares to set sail, the organizers emphasize the importance of international cooperation and solidarity, built upon the relationships developed at the recent Nuestra América conference in Bogotá. The coalition’s goal is not only to alleviate immediate needs but also to challenge the narrative surrounding the embargo and the impact it has had on the Cuban populace. The violation of Cuba's sovereignty and its right to self-determination remains a critical issue, as the vast majority of UN member states have consistently called for an end to the economic, commercial, and financial blockade. In a recent vote, 165 countries supported lifting the embargo, while only a handful aligned with the US and Israel in opposition. The Nuestra América Flotilla aims to serve as both a humanitarian mission and a political statement that seeks to engage global citizens in the fight for justice and equality for the Cuban people, who have endured over six decades of economic adversity imposed by external forces. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2