Losing Cuba, the global trickster

The United States appears to be increasing pressure on Cuba after its operation in Venezuela earlier this year; media reports have described US military activity nearby, while US officials say they want “Cuba to be free”. The author suggests the Cuban Revolution may be nearing its end and reflects on the outsized geopolitical role of the island’s 10 million people. He likens Cuba to Eshu, a messenger and trickster spirit in Yoruba-derived Santeria who challenges norms and power structures. At its best, Machado argues, Cuba has challenged US hegemony and held the United States to account.