The president of Cuba's Casa de las Américas, Abel Prieto, described today's discussion in the capital with Italians, mostly youth, regarding the significance of Ernesto Che Guevara as inspiring for its ethical depth.

During the event, convened by the Network of Communists with participation from the Student Opposition of Alternative (OSA) and Cambiare Rotta, Organization of Communist Youth, speakers also included Cuban Ambassador Jorge Luis Cepero and academic Luciano Vasapollo.

In statements to Prensa Latina, Prieto highlighted the commitment of the young attendees in their struggle for an alternative in a “terrible world,” noting that “they are anti-imperialists, anti-colonialists, and proudly communists.”

The Cuban writer and essayist stressed the motivating nature of the exchange, particularly the questions posed by the youth, who showed keen interest in Che's concept of the “New Man” and the ongoing battle in culture and communication, just days ahead of October 9, marking 59 years since his assassination in Bolivia.

“They are fully engaged in matters of paramount importance,” stated Prieto, who is also a deputy in the National Assembly of People's Power. He described the thoughts and figure of the Argentine-Cuban guerrilla as “essential” today, “because he represents the vanguard not only in political terms, but in moral terms as well.”

University professor Luciano Vasapollo likewise drew attention to the enduring relevance of Che's thought and work, noting it is necessary to teach young people “that Che is not just a t-shirt to be worn, but a contemporary ethical, economic, and political ideal.”

During the two-hour dialogue, the leader of the Network of Communists stated that preserving Che's ideas and sharing them with youth offers a perspective of socialist democracy against the rise of the international right wing.

Regarding this trend, Prieto referred to the dangers surrounding the fascist-leaning right established in several Latin American governments, while pointing to the results of the first round in Sunday's presidential election in Brazil.

Furthermore, he denounced the actions of U.S. President Donald Trump and his harsh policies against the Cuban population, a silent warfare that Cuban authorities have repeatedly denounced before the United Nations General Assembly and other international forums.

The president of Casa de las Américas recounted some of the daily hardships faced by Cubans, including the consequences of power outages triggered by unilateral measures imposed by Washington.

Illustrating the impact of the embargo on the island, the Cuban ambassador noted how Cuba's infant mortality rate increased significantly, reaching 9.9 deaths per 1,000 live births toward the end of 2025—more than double the country's historical rate of around four per 1,000 recorded in previous years.

The panelists also cited the damage caused by U.S. commercial and financial sanctions, which prevent the acquisition of medicines and medical supplies, alongside the naval encirclement hindering fuel imports into the country.

Throughout the exchange, participants reaffirmed the importance of raising public awareness about the reality in Cuba and the damage inflicted by Washington's hostile policies in the face of manipulation campaigns across social media and right-wing controlled outlets.

Similarly, speakers emphasized the vital role of international solidarity with Cuba, which Abel Prieto acknowledged has intensified in response to the pressure and falsehoods of U.S. imperialism.

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