At the 11th BRICS Parliamentary Forum, a bloc initially composed of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa and recently expanded, Cuban representative Alberto Nuñez strongly rejected Washington’s siege against the island, which he described as a “suffocating economic war.”

In his speech, Nuñez conveyed the gratitude of the island’s Parliament to the organizers and reiterated that Cuba’s participation as a BRICS partner country represents an opportunity to build a more just multilateral order, based on cooperative solidarity between states at different levels of development.

He highlighted the approval of the new Public Health Bill in December 2023 as one of the recent achievements, conceived as an updated, ethical, innovative, and deeply inclusive law.

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cuba faced extreme difficulties in accessing fuel, medical supplies, and external financing. “And yet, we prioritize life,” said Núñez.

“The BRICS have a strategic role to play in promoting sustainable, equitable, and inclusive development in the area of health,” he asserted.

Cuban representative Alberto Nuñez suggested moving forward parliamentary debate to promote integrated public policies and coordinated responses to future epidemiological emergencies.

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