Cuban First Deputy Foreign Minister Gerardo Peñalver reaffirmed on Tuesday the ongoing relevance of the principles of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) during the Commemorative Meeting marking the 65th anniversary of the organization.

The Cuban diplomat, attending as a special envoy of President Miguel Díaz-Canel, conveyed his country's gratitude to the Ugandan chairmanship of the Movement and to the authorities of Serbia for organizing the event, while expressing Cuba's "genuine pride" in being a founding member of NAM.

According to the official statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Peñalver emphasized that the founding principles of the Movement remain fully valid in the current international context, asserting that its activism as the voice of the Global South "is more necessary than ever in the face of today's colossal challenges."

The First Deputy Minister charged that the U.S. administration has intensified its blockade against Cuba through an "energy siege equivalent to a naval blockade," secondary sanctions against third countries, and a persistent threat of direct military aggression.

Peñalver explained that these policies have yielded painful consequences for the Cuban population, including a waiting list exceeding 90,000 patients for surgical procedures, severe shortages within the basic formulary of essential medicines, and the inability of thousands of containers carrying food and medical equipment to reach Cuban ports.

"There is no doubt regarding the genocidal dimension that the policy of economic strangulation against Cuba has acquired," the diplomat stated, while reaffirming the island's determination to resist and pursue development alternatives through its own efforts in defense of its sovereignty.

Peñalver quoted the leader of the Cuban Revolution, Raúl Castro, to stress that "the security and peace of the wealthy are not those for which poor countries fight," recalling that Cuba aspires to a "peace with sovereignty, independence, dignity, justice, and development."

The deputy minister expressed gratitude to NAM for its historical condemnation of the blockade, the energy siege, and the inclusion of Cuba on the unilateral list of state sponsors of terrorism, as well as the recognition of the cooperation the island maintains with numerous member states of the Movement.

He made special mention of the addresses by the President of Ghana and the Minister of the Presidency of Namibia, both of whom voiced support for Cuba and rejected the blockade during the plenary session.

Peñalver concluded his address by recalling words from the historic leader of the Revolution, Fidel Castro, who warned that "the success and future of the Non-Aligned Movement will lie in not allowing itself to be penetrated, confused, or deceived by imperialist ideology."

"It is time to reaffirm our anti-imperialist, anti-neocolonialist, and anti-fascist ideas, which are at the core and history of the Non-Aligned Movement," the Cuban diplomat concluded.