August 11, 2026

Japanese Communist Party Vice Chair Ogata Yasuo spoke at the 24th International Meeting of Communist and Workers’ Parties (IMCWP) held on August 7 and 8 in Havana, Cuba.

This was the first time that a JCP delegate attended the IMCWP which this time brought together more than 110 delegates representing 50 communist and workers’ parties from across the world.

Speaking on the first day of the meeting, Ogata expressed his determination to work to broaden international solidarity to protect Cuba’s sovereignty and independence amid an increasingly serious crisis situation in Cuba.

Ogata explained the current situation in Japan under the Japan-U.S. military alliance, and said that some 55,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Japan and 130 U.S. military bases and facilities are located there. He added that approximately 70% of those military installations are concentrated in Okinawa. Referring to the U.S. military base at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, Ogata stated that Japan and Cuba share common problems of infringement on their sovereignty and the rights of their citizens. He called for joint struggles to remove U.S. military bases.

At the closing session, Miguel Diaz-Canel, First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) and Cuban President, delivered a speech on behalf of the PCC which hosted the meeting, welcoming the success of the meeting. He stated that the Cuban people, who are waging a historic struggle amidst enormous hardships including power and water shortages stemming from the U.S. administration’s economic sanctions, will “endure and win”.

Ogata exchanged greetings with the PCC first secretary.