In the spring of 1990, Cuban President Fidel Castro was grappling with the likelihood of conflict with the United States — for the first time without the promise of Russian help. Backed into a corner, Castro reportedly declared that Cuba would rather become another “Numancia” than be conquered.
He was referring to the ancient Roman siege of the Spanish city of Numancia in 133 BC. But most of the city’s residents refused to surrender to their attackers, instead choosing to take their own lives inside the city walls.
“La Numancia” became a motif in defiant speeches late into Castro’s presidency, Cuba policy expert Frank Mora told CNN, as the island’s once-powerful and Russian-backed military grew decrepit while subsidies withered away following the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Today, Cuba is facing fresh threats by the US and its leadership is following a similar script to the late Castro, making it clear they’re prepared to go down swinging even if they lack the capabilities, Mora said.
As the Trump administration escalates its pressure campaign against Cuba, hundreds of videos and images published online by the island nation’s military and government in recent months illustrate the reduced state of its combat force, according to a CNN analysis.
