Cuban Singer Gets a Rifle for the First Time

Silvio Rodriguez, 79, known for his songs that helped shape the Cuban revolution, was handed an AKM rifle by the military. The gesture came after he posted on social media that he was ready to fight if the United States ever tried to invade. The weapon, a modern version of the old Soviet AK-47, was given as both a real gun and a decorative copy. The ceremony also featured the country’s president and top military leaders, all wearing their uniforms in front of a crowd on state television. Cuba faces deep economic problems and is still under an oil embargo from the United States. The government says it will stand firm against any foreign attack, no matter how powerful the enemy might be.During the event, a senior general praised Rodriguez’s music as a “thunder” that calls people to protect their homeland. The speech was part of the state’s push for everyone in society to be ready for war, a policy that has shown civilians training with soldiers on TV. The president also posted a message online, saying that if the worst happens, Cuba will meet any invader with strong resistance. The whole episode shows how music and politics are mixed in Cuba, where a folk singer’s words can become part of the country’s defense story. It also highlights how the government wants its citizens to see themselves as defenders of their nation, not just listeners.