Sources from the Spanish government admitted that the king could not visit Cuba without making a call in favor of democracy, and that this plea went as far as what Cuban authorities were willing to allow. Díaz-Canel did not seem upset by the king’s speech. Indeed, he applauded Felipe VI and thanked him for Spain’s “clear and public support” against the “unfair” US sanctions that “cause so much hurt” to the Cuban people. Díaz-Canel also commended the “loyalty and commitment” of Spanish businesses, threatened by US sanctions, and he promised the latter a “relevant participation” in Cuba’s development plans until 2030.
Before the dinner, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia met with 22 representatives of Cuban civil society, including entrepreneurs, owners of private businesses, journalists from independent digital media groups, as well as writers and artists like Jorge Perugorría and Leonardo Paduro.
According to several people who attended the meeting, the king promised them that Spain would support their independent business and cultural initiatives, and asked them if they thought the current economic reforms were irreversible. The guests thanked the Spanish royals for their visit, and asked them to call on Spain to strengthen its relations with Cuba and boost the visibility of its civil society.
