International

Spain is optimistic about the future of Guatemala with the Government of Arévalo de León

Spain sees with optimism the future of Guatemala after the arrival of Bernardo Arévalo de León, inaugurated on January 15, due to his government plan and his social projects.

This was stated by the now former ambassador of Spain to Guatemala, José María Laviña, who was at the head of the diplomatic delegation from September 2020 until the end of his mandate this week.

“It has been three and a half intense years,” Laviña recalled in an interview with EFE, referring to his arrival in Guatemala in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Undoubtedly, the passage of Laviña in Guatemala was also marked by the support of Spain and the European Union for the Guatemalan electoral process, at risk for much of 2023 due to the attempts of the Public Ministry (Fiscalía) to reverse the triumph at the polls of Arévalo de León.

According to the Spanish official, the Guatemala he met in 2020, when landing in the country, is not the same as the current one: “Politically, there are indeed differences to the last stage of the Government of (Alejandro) Giammattei, with the attempts made from different institutions and powers to prevent the investiture of Bernardo Arévalo.”

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However, in his vision, the new president was able to take office thanks to the effort of the Guatemalans to maintain democracy, and “in the second term,” due to international support.

“I was surprised by the virulence of those attacks, of those judicialization, of politics, that there was the final stage of last year against the president and the political party Semilla,” he added.

Laviña asserted that he had never lived an investiture like the one scheduled for last January 14, where, according to experts, the inauguration of Arévalo de León was at risk and that is why it was delayed until January 15.

“Everyone who has attended the inauguration in Latin America has seen very unique things, but I think that what happened here with those 12 hours of delay, about the scheduled schedules, I think no one expected it,” he said.

In the same sense, Laviña considers that it was “a little sad” what happened by the “image” that Guatemala was providing “live” to the world.

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Regarding the new Government, the now former ambassador says that there are “many opportunities” for the country because Arévalo “has a very evident social content in his political program” in search of the “welfare state” for the most disadvantaged.

“The triumph of democracy in Guatemala can and should be an example for many countries that have experienced complicated situations,” he said, with “optimism” about the future of the Central American nation.

The 60-year-old diplomat, born in Oviedo (in northwestern Spain) assured that it has been a “privilege” to occupy the position in Guatemala, a country that has left his mark and where he has been practically “five percent of my life.”

From September 2020 to date, he visited 20 of the 22 departments (provinces) of the country and the “most remote” places in the territory, hand in hand with Spanish cooperation.

“I think Guatemalan gastronomy has a lot of future, based on traditional dishes, and its places are wonderful,” Laviña stressed, always trying to get out of the “bubble” that is Guatemala City, which “does not represent the country.”

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Regarding Spain’s relationship with Guatemala, Laviña described it as “very good” both in the past and at present.

In place of Laviña, the Spanish Government appointed the diplomat Clara Girbau, who served as permanent representative of Spain to the European Union as coordinator in charge of the working groups on relations with Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific.

International

Mexican Navy Ships Deliver Third Shipment of Humanitarian Aid to Cuba

Two logistics support vessels from the Mexican Navy — the ARM Papaloapan and the ARM Huasteco — docked again on Friday in the bay of Havana carrying a third shipment of humanitarian aid for Cuba.

The vessels had previously arrived on the Caribbean island on February 28 with a second cargo that included 1,200 tons of food, sent to help alleviate the country’s ongoing crisis, which has worsened following the U.S. oil restrictions affecting fuel supplies to the island.

Cuba’s deputy foreign minister Josefina Vidal confirmed the new shipment in a social media post.

“Two ships carrying a third shipment of aid from the Government and the people of Mexico for the Cuban people are now arriving at the port of Havana. Thank you Mexico for your solidarity with Cuba,” she wrote.

Previous aid shipments

During the second shipment, the Papaloapan transported 1,078 tons of beans and powdered milk, while the Huastecocarried 92 tons of beans and 23 tons of assorted food products collected by social organizations with support from the government of Mexico City.

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In recent months, Mexico has become the largest provider of humanitarian aid to Cuba, sending around 2,000 tons of supplies, mostly staple foods and hygiene products, in the two shipments prior to Friday’s delivery.

The first shipment alone included 814 tons of food.

Cuba praises Mexico’s support

Hours before the ships arrived, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel highlighted Mexico’s support during a televised appearance, describing the country as “a friendly and brotherly nation that has shown tremendous solidarity,”particularly praising Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.

Díaz-Canel also addressed reports suggesting that Mexican donations were being resold in state-run stores, dismissing them as a “disinformation campaign” promoted by right-wing groups.

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International

Ecuador Declares 60-Day National Emergency After Deadly Floods and Landslides

Ecuador has declared a 60-day national emergency to address the impact of a severe rainy season that has left 11 people dead and more than 50,000 affected since January, the government’s disaster management authority announced Friday.

Prolonged heavy rains accompanied by thunderstorms have caused river overflows and landslides, mainly in the coastal provinces of Guayas, El Oro, Esmeraldas, Los Ríos, Manabí and Santa Elena, as well as in the Andean provinces of Lojaand Chimborazo.

According to the Secretariat for Risk Management of Ecuador, the emergency declaration was issued “due to the level of impact caused nationwide on the population, the road network, infrastructure, and livelihoods.”

“The emergency declaration is aimed at responding to the effects and negative impacts and preventing their further spread,” the agency said in a statement.

International

Trump Pushes for Regime Change in Cuba as Havana Confirms Talks With Washington

U.S. President Donald Trump has made no secret of his desire for political change in Cuba, located just 150 kilometers from the United States. Washington considers the island an “exceptional threat,” citing its close ties with Russia, Chinaand Iran, longtime allies of Havana.

Trump has urged Cuba to “reach a deal” with Washington or face consequences, as the island struggles with a severe energy crisis that has nearly paralyzed its economy after the United States cut oil shipments from Venezuela, its main fuel supplier. The U.S. has also warned other countries against selling fuel to Havana.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel confirmed that Cuban officials have recently held talks with representatives of the U.S. government. The statement came during a meeting with senior members of the ruling Communist Party of Cuba and the executive committee of the Council of Ministers, according to footage broadcast on Cuban television.

“These conversations have been aimed at seeking solutions through dialogue to the bilateral differences that exist between our two nations,” Díaz-Canel said.

Reports of intermediaries and possible negotiations

According to television images, among those attending the meeting was Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, grandson of former Cuban leader Raúl Castro. Although he holds no official government position, U.S. media have identified him as a possible interlocutor with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in what have been described as secret discussions between Washington and Havana.

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For some Cubans, any potential agreement with Washington is viewed pragmatically. “As long as it benefits us, we can reach an agreement — but on our terms,” said Sergio Guerra, a 55-year-old agricultural vendor, speaking to AFP.

Díaz-Canel’s remarks confirm earlier statements by Trump, who indicated in January that his administration had already begun contacts with senior Cuban officials.

Mexico calls for diplomacy

Meanwhile, Mexico welcomed the possibility of dialogue after recently sending more than 2,000 tons of humanitarian aid to Cuba to help mitigate the crisis.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said her country would always promote peace and diplomatic dialogue, particularly in response to what she described as the long-standing injustice of the U.S. embargo on the Cuban people.