Silvio Rodriguez — the renowned Cuban singer-songwriter, guitarist, poet, and composer, a leading figure of the musical movement born out of the Revolution known as Nueva Trova — has surprised his followers and the cultural world by that he is prepared to take up arms if the United States attempts to invade the island.
The artist’s warning comes amid rising tensions between Washington and Havana, as well as repeated statements by U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting an interest in asserting control over Cuba and changing the Castro-era system that has governed the nation for nearly seven decades.
Silvio Rodriguez calls for an iconic rifle
“I demand my AKM if they make a move. And let it be clear, I say this very seriously,” Rodriguez wrote in response to a post on his blog titled “Cuba at the crossroads of hypocritical multilateralism,” in which he denounced the “strangulation” the island is experiencing—referring, among other things, to measures by Trump such as restricting oil shipments to Cuba.
The AKM (Avtomat Kalashnikova Modernizirovanny) is a Kalashnikov assault rifle, recognizable for its curved magazine. It is currently the most widely produced assault rifle in the world (including both licensed and unlicensed copies), and is often confused with the AK-47, the original model frequently wielded by rebel and terrorist groups across the globe.
By invoking that weapon, Rodriguez, now 80, sent a powerful message to his supporters and to those who defend Cuba’s current circumstances. On the same blog, readers echoed his stance with comments such as: “I also demand my AKM with three or four magazines, and I ask to be close to you… Is that too much to ask?”; “I’m demanding mine as well — and I mean it very seriously”; and “Get me one and I’ll barricade myself on the rooftop.”
Tensions in Cuba have been escalating due to a combination of factors. Some are internal: the tightening of U.S. sanctions, power outages, and shortages of fuel, food, and medicine. Others are external, shaped by the Trump administration’s broader foreign policy toward the region and the world.
Trump is no Joe Biden or Barack Obama
The U.S. president Donald Trump ordered the operation that led to the capture and extraction of Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, signaling his willingness to take decisive action to assert influence in the Western Hemisphere. In the Middle East, he has also supported military action alongside Israel against Iran. He has indicated that Cuba could be next.
That warning has heightened expectations among both supporters of the government of Miguel Diaz-Canel and its critics inside and outside the island. Some, like Silvio Rodríguez, reject any U.S. intervention outright. Others—particularly Cuban exiles and those affected within the country—are hoping for direct action, and soon.
In any case, the Cuban government, which has endured the U.S. embargo since 1962, confirmed that it is engaged in talks with Washington and has released political prisoners as part of an agreement with the Vatican. These are still fragile steps, but they suggest an attempt to ease pressure on a situation that appears close to boiling over.
But Trump is not Joe Biden — and even less Barack Obama, who famously visited the island in a historic gesture of rapprochement with the Castro government. The current president of the world’s leading power has already shown that he gives negotiation only a narrow window — otherwise, he moves to action.