A trade union delegation from Greece’s All-Workers’ Militant Front (PAME) has departed on a solidarity visit to Cuba as European movements continue their actions in support of the socialist island.

“PAME honors the Cuba of Fidel Castro and Che Guevara, the defiant Cuban people who proved in practice that peoples can take their destiny into their hands,” the organization wrote ahead of departure. “A Cuba that, despite immense difficulties, continues to stand as a beacon of resistance and internationalist solidarity, offering tangible support to peoples and workers around the world, through doctors, educators, and selfless assistance to their struggles, as was clearly demonstrated during the pandemic.”

Read more: The Cuban Revolution holds out against US imperialism

In addition to the union visit, Greece has seen demonstrations against US threats against Cuba and other Latin American countries, with one of the latest taking place in Thessaloniki on February 17. Kostas Tsechelidis from the Organizations of the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE) emphasized that while “US imperialist aggression is escalating dangerously,” internationalist solidarity with Cuba must continue. “For decades, there have been countless attempts to sabotage critical infrastructure, carry out assassinations, and stage provocative actions – such as those in July 2021 – exploiting the shortages created by their own [US] policies, namely the unacceptable ’embargo,'” Tsechelidis said.

Calls for European governments to stand up to the Trump administration’s devastating expansion of the blockade on Cuba have also been appearing in growing numbers. In Britain, thousands of people – including the general secretaries of major education, transport, and public services unions – called for Keir Starmer’s government to oppose US threats and uphold international law and Cuba’s sovereignty.

In Belgium, hundreds of academics, cultural workers, unionists, and activists appealed for the country’s embassy in Havana to remain operational – contrary to government plans. The signatories emphasized that a functioning embassy is crucial at this time, including to maintain exchanges and cooperation projects with Cuban universities and other institutions. “Maintaining these channels is not a luxury, it is essential for protecting dialogue, avoiding escalation, and contributing concretely to regional stability,” they stated, also noting that the move would reaffirm “Belgium’s commitment to defending multilateralism and cooperation as the foundations of a just and peaceful world.”

Read more: “Hands off Cuba!”: left groups in Europe mobilize against US aggression

Meanwhile, as communist parties and solidarity groups launched appeals to collect and deliver food and essential supplies to Cuba under blockade, few European governments signaled they would take action. Among these few were the administration in Spain which, after a meeting with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, announced they would deliver humanitarian aid through the UN. The Russian Federation, which also hosted Rodríguez, affirmed their continued solidarity. “We have always stood by Cuba in its struggle for independence, for the right to pursue its own path of development, and we have consistently supported the Cuban people,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said during the meeting, emphasizing the country’s opposition to growing US aggression against Cuba.

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