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 Cuba portal |
Cuba's foreign policy has been highly dynamic depending on world events throughoutLatin America and theCaribbean. Cuban foreign policy is impacted by the variousspheres of influence andeconomic development of neighboring countries. During the 1980s, its geopolitical alignment with theSoviet Union isolated Cuba on the international stage. Thefall of the Soviet Union, end of theCold War, and emergence ofRussia as a key trading partner led to limited regional relations. Cuba began to establish bilateral relations withSouth American countries during the late-1990s, mainly withVenezuela andBolivia. Cuba has a coldrelationship with the United States, with a variety of bilateral issues due to historic conflict and divergent political ideologies. It has asimilarly strained relationship with theEuropean Union (EU) due to Cuba'shuman rights policies.[1] Since the late-2010s, Cuba has developed closer ties to Venezuela, Russia, andChina.
Cuba provided civilian assistance workers – principally medical – to more than 20 countries asmedical diplomacy.[2] More thanone million exiles have escaped to foreign countries. Cuba is slated to be a part of theUnited Nations Human Rights Council from 2024 to 2026. It is a founding member of theBolivarian Alternative for the Americas, a member of theCommunity of Latin American and Caribbean States, theLatin American Integration Association and theUnited Nations. Cuba is a member of theNon-Aligned Movement and hosted its September 2006 summit. In addition as a member of theAssociation of Caribbean States (ACS), Cuba was re-appointed as the chair of the special committee on transportation issues for the Caribbean region.[3] Since November 2004, several leaders of South America have attempted to make Cuba either a full or associate member of the South Americantrade bloc known asMercosur.[4][5] Cuba's present foreign minister isBruno Rodríguez Parrilla.
In 1917, Cuba entered World War I on the side of the allies.[6]
Following the establishment of diplomatic ties to the Soviet Union, and after theCuban Missile Crisis, Cuba became increasingly dependent on Soviet markets and military and economic aid. Castro was able to build a formidable military force with the help of Soviet equipment and military advisors. The KGB kept in close touch with Havana, and Castro tightened Communist Party control over all levels of government, the media, and the educational system, while developing a Soviet-style internal police force.
Castro's alliance with the Soviet Union caused something of a split between him and Guevara. In 1966, Guevara left forBolivia in an ill-fated attempt to stir up revolution against the country's government.
On August 23, 1968, Castro made a public gesture to the USSR that caused the Soviet leadership to reaffirm their support for him. Two days afterWarsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia to repress thePrague Spring, Castro took to the airwaves and publicly denounced the Czech rebellion. Castro warned the Cuban people about the Czechoslovak 'counterrevolutionaries', who "were moving Czechoslovakia towards capitalism and into the arms ofimperialists". He called the leaders of the rebellion "the agents ofWest Germany andfascist reactionary rabble."[7]
"Cuba has a unique symbolic allure. It is the small country that confronted the U.S. empire and has survived despite the attempts by all U.S. presidents since to subdue its communist government. It is the island with iconic leaders likeFidel Castro andChe Guevara, and the Latin American country that in the language of revolutionaries everywhere embodies the struggle of socialist humanism against the materialism of capitalist societies. Cuba is also the small nation that in the past sent its troops to die in faraway lands in Latin America and even Africa fighting for the poor."
During the Cold War, Cuba's influence in the Americas was inhibited by theMonroe Doctrine and the dominance of the United States.[9] Despite this Fidel Castro became an influential figurehead for leftist groups in the region, extending support to Marxist Revolutionary movements throughout Latin America, most notablyaiding theSandinistas in overthrowingSomoza inNicaragua in 1979. In 1971, Fidel Castro tooka month-long visit to Chile. The visit, in which Castro participated actively in the internal politics of the country, holding massive rallies and giving public advice toSalvador Allende, was seen by those on the political right as proof to support their view that "The Chilean Way to Socialism" was an effort to put Chile on the same path as Cuba.[10]
During the Cold War, Africa was a major target of Cuba's influence. Fidel Castro stated that Africa was chosen in part to represent Cuban solidarity with its own large population of African descent. Exporting Cuba's revolutionary tactics abroad increased its worldwide influence and reputation. Wolf Grabendorff states that "Most African states view Cuban intervention in Africa as help in achieving independence through self-help rather than as a step toward the type of dependence which would result from a similar commitment by the super-powers."[11] Cuban Soldiers were sent to fight in theSimba rebellion in the DRC during the 1960s. Furthermore, by providing military aid Cuba won trading partners for the Soviet bloc and potential converts to Marxism.[9]
Starting in the 1970s, Cuba's intervened in 17 African nations including three insurgencies.[9] Cuba expanded military programs to Africa and the Middle East, sending military missions to Sierra Leone in 1972, South Yemen in 1973, Equatorial Guinea in 1973, and Somalia in 1974. It sent combat troops to Syria in 1973 to fight against Israel. Cuba was following the general Soviet policy of détente with the West, and secret discussions were opened with the United States about peaceful coexistence. They ended abruptly when Cuba sent combat troops to fight in Angola in 1975.[12]
On November 4, 1975, Castro ordered the deployment of Cuban troops toAngola to aid the MarxistMPLA againstUNITA, which were supported by thePeople's Republic of China, United States,Israel, and South Africa (see:Cuba in Angola). After two months on their own, Moscow aided the Cuban mission with the USSR engaging in a massive airlift of Cuban forces into Angola. Both Cuban and South African forces withdrew in the late 1980s and Namibia was granted independence. TheAngolan civil war would last until 2002.Nelson Mandela is said to have remarked "Cuban internationalists have done so much for African independence, freedom, and justice."[13] Cuban troops were also sent to MarxistEthiopia to assistMengistu Haile Mariam's government in theOgaden War withSomalia in 1977. Cuba sent troops along with the Soviet Union to aid theFRELIMO government against theRhodesian and South African-backedRENAMO.[14]Castro never disclosed the number of casualties in Soviet African wars, but one estimate is that 14,000 Cubans were killed in Cuban military actions abroad.[15][16]
In addition, Castro extended support to Marxist Revolutionary movements throughout Latin America, such as aiding theSandinistas in overthrowing theSomoza government inNicaragua in 1979.[14]
In the 1970s, Fidel Castro made a major effort to assume a leadership role in the non-aligned movement, which include over 90 countries. Cuba's intervention in Angola other military advisory missions, economic and social programs were praised fellow non-aligned member. The 1976 world conference of the non-aligned Movement applauded Cuban internationalism, stating that it "assisted the people of Angola in frustrating the expansionist and colonialist strategy of South Africa's racist regime and its allies." The next non-aligned conference was held in Havana in 1979, and chaired by Castro, who became the de facto spokesman for the Movement.The conference in September 1979 marked the peak of Cuban global influence. The non-aligned nations had believed that Cuba was not aligned with the Soviet Union in the Cold War.[17] However, in December 1979, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, an active member of the non-aligned Movement. At the United Nations, non-aligned members voted 56 to 9, with 26 abstaining, to condemn the Soviet invasion. Cuba, however, was deeply in debt financially and politically to Moscow, and voted against the resolution. It lost its reputation as non-aligned in the Cold War. Castro, instead of becoming a spokesman for the Movement, became inactive, and in 1983, leadership passed to India, which had abstained on the UN vote. Cuba lost its bid to become a member of the United Nations Security Council. Cuba's ambitions for a role in global leadership had ended.[18][19]
Cuba had social and economic programs in 40 developing countries. This was possible by a growing Cuban economy in the 1970s. The largest programs were construction projects, in which 8,000 Cubans provided technical advice, planning, and training of engineers. Educational programs involved 3,500 teachers. In addition thousands of specialists, technicians, and engineers were sent as advisors to agricultural mining and transportation sectors around the globe. Cuba also hosted 10,000 foreign students, mostly from Africa and Latin America, in health programs and technical schools.[20] Cuba's extensive program of medical support to international attention. A 2007 study reported:
In the post–Cold War environment Cuban support for guerrilla warfare in Latin America has largely subsided, though the Cuban government continued to provide political assistance and support for left leaning groups and parties in the developing Western Hemisphere.
When Soviet leaderMikhail Gorbachev visited Cuba in 1989, the ideological relationship between Havana and Moscow was strained by Gorbachev's implementation of economic and political reforms in the USSR. "We are witnessing sad things in other socialist countries, very sad things", lamented Castro in November 1989, in reference to the changes that were sweeping such communist allies as the Soviet Union,East Germany, Hungary, and Poland.[22] The subsequentdissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 had an immediate and devastating effect on Cuba.
Cuba today works with a growing bloc of Latin American politicians opposed to the "Washington consensus", the American-led doctrine thatfree trade, open markets, andprivatization will lift poor third world countries out of economic stagnation. The Cuban government condemnedneoliberalism as a destructive force in the developing world, creating an alliance with PresidentsHugo Chávez ofVenezuela andEvo Morales ofBolivia in opposing such policies.[23][24][25][26]
Currently, Cuba hasdiplomatically friendly relationships with PresidentsNicolás Maduro of Venezuela with Maduro as perhaps the country's staunchest ally in the post-Soviet era. Cuba has sent thousands of teachers and medical personnel to Venezuela to assist Maduro'ssocialist oriented economic programs. Maduro, in turn provides Cuba with lower priced petroleum. Cuba's debt for oil to Venezuela is believed to be on the order of one billion US dollars.[27]
Historically during Nicaragua's initial Sandinista period and since the 2007 election ofDaniel Ortega, Cuba has maintained closerelations with Nicaragua.
In the wake of theRussian invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing international isolation of Russia, Cuba emerged as one of the few countries that maintained friendly relations with theKremlin.[28][29] Cuban presidentMiguel Diaz-Canel visitedVladimir Putin in Moscow in November 2022, where the two leaders opened a monument of Fidel Castro, as well as speaking out against U.S. sanctions against Russian and Cuba.[30]
List of countries which Cuba maintains diplomatic relations with:
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|---|---|---|
| # | Country | Date[31] |
| 1 |  Guatemala | 30 April 1902[32] |
| 2 |  Mexico | 20 May 1902 |
| 3 |  Netherlands | 20 May 1902 |
| 4 |  United Kingdom | 20 May 1902[33] |
| 5 |  United States | 27 May 1902[34] |
| 6 |  France | 11 June 1902[35] |
| 7 |  Venezuela | 14 June 1902[36] |
| 8 |  Switzerland | 18 June 1902[37] |
| 9 |  Spain | 21 June 1902[38] |
| 10 |  Bolivia | 19 July 1902[39] |
| 11 |  Belgium | 18 August 1902 |
| 12 |  Uruguay | 1 September 1902[40] |
| 13 |  Sweden | 30 September 1902[41] |
| 14 |  El Salvador | 11 November 1902[42] |
| 15 |  Colombia | 1902[43] |
| 16 |  Ecuador | 24 April 1903[44] |
| 17 |  Chile | 19 October 1903[45] |
| 18 |  Honduras | 24 November 1903[46][47] |
| 19 |  Italy | 20 December 1903 |
| 20 |  Haiti | 3 February 1904[48] |
| 21 |  Dominican Republic | 5 April 1904[45] |
| 22 |  Panama | 7 April 1904[49] |
| 23 |  Peru | 11 January 1905[45] |
| 24 |  Nicaragua | 3 September 1905[50] |
| 25 |  Norway | 20 June 1906[51] |
| 26 |  Paraguay | 13 July 1906[52] |
| 27 |  Brazil | 13 December 1906[53] |
| 28 |  Costa Rica | 17 December 1907[54][55] |
| 29 |  Argentina | 12 May 1909[56] |
| 30 |  Denmark | 29 June 1911[57] |
| 31 |  Portugal | 16 May 1919 |
| 32 |  Czech Republic | 23 November 1920[58] |
| 33 |  Austria | 15 January 1924[59] |
| 34 |  Romania | 13 April 1927[60] |
| 35 |  Finland | 5 April 1929 |
| 36 |  Japan | 21 December 1929[61] |
| 37 |  Greece | 29 May 1930[62] |
| 38 |  Poland | 1 January 1933[63] |
| — |  Holy See | 2 September 1935[64] |
| 39 |  Luxembourg | 25 November 1942 |
| 40 |  Serbia | 30 August 1943[65] |
| 41 |  Canada | 16 March 1945 |
| 42 |  Philippines | 4 July 1946[66] |
| 43 |  Egypt | 5 September 1949 |
| 44 |  Turkey | 25 November 1952 |
| 45 |  Pakistan | 5 February 1954 |
| — |  Israel (suspended) | 16 June 1954[67] |
| 46 |  Germany | 30 June 1955[68] |
| 47 |  Iceland | 26 January 1956 |
| 48 |  Saudi Arabia | 10 February 1956 |
| 49 |  Thailand | 19 May 1958 |
| 50 |  Sri Lanka | 29 July 1959 |
| — |  Sovereign Military Order of Malta | 29 July 1959 |
| 51 |  Ghana | 23 September 1959 |
| 52 |  Tunisia | 23 September 1959 |
| 53 |  India | 12 January 1960 |
| 54 |  Indonesia | 22 January 1960 |
| 55 |  Iraq | 5 April 1960 |
| 56 |  Russia | 8 May 1960 |
| 57 |  Lebanon | 15 June 1960 |
| 58 |  North Korea | 29 August 1960 |
| 59 |  Guinea | 30 August 1960 |
| 60 |  China | 28 September 1960 |
| 61 |  Bulgaria | 14 October 1960 |
| 62 |  Cyprus | 22 November 1960 |
| 63 |  Vietnam | 2 December 1960 |
| 64 |  Mongolia | 7 December 1960[69] |
| 65 |  Albania | 15 December 1960 |
| 66 |  Hungary | 18 December 1960 |
| 67 |  Mali | 30 December 1960 |
| 68 |  Morocco | 16 April 1962[70] |
| 69 |  Tanzania | 6 May 1962 |
| 70 |  Algeria | 7 October 1962 |
| 71 |  Cambodia | 26 October 1962 |
| 72 |  Republic of the Congo | 10 May 1964 |
| 73 |  Syria | 11 August 1965 |
| 74 |  Sierra Leone | 24 April 1972 |
| 75 |  Yemen | 4 May 1972 |
| 76 |  Zambia | 19 July 1972 |
| 77 |  Mauritania | 16 August 1972 |
| 78 |  Barbados | 8 December 1972 |
| 79 |  Guyana | 8 December 1972 |
| 80 |  Jamaica | 8 December 1972 |
| 81 |  Trinidad and Tobago | 8 December 1972 |
| 82 |  Equatorial Guinea | 27 December 1972 |
| 83 |  Bangladesh | 15 January 1973 |
| 84 |  Guinea-Bissau | 1 October 1973 |
| 85 |  Benin | 1 February 1974 |
| 86 |  Burundi | 2 February 1974 |
| 87 |  Gabon | 26 March 1974 |
| 88 |  Democratic Republic of the Congo | 11 April 1974 |
| 89 |  Madagascar | 11 April 1974 |
| 90 |  Liberia | 19 April 1974 |
| 91 |  Kuwait | 29 April 1974 |
| 92 |  Uganda | 9 May 1974 |
| 93 |  Nigeria | 1 July 1974 |
| 94 |  Senegal | 9 August 1974 |
| 95 |  Cameroon | 31 August 1974 |
| 96 |  Laos | 1 November 1974 |
| 97 |  Bahamas | 30 November 1974 |
| 98 |  Malaysia | 6 February 1975 |
| 99 |  Iran | 10 February 1975 |
| 100 |  Nepal | 19 March 1975 |
| 101 |  Mozambique | 25 June 1975 |
| 102 |  Ethiopia | 18 July 1975 |
| 103 |  Cape Verde | 5 September 1975 |
| 104 |  Afghanistan | 23 September 1975 |
| 105 |  Angola | 15 November 1975 |
| 106 |  Burkina Faso | 11 December 1975 |
| 107 |  Libya | 18 February 1976[71] |
| 108 |  São Tomé and Príncipe | 10 April 1976 |
| 109 |  Niger | 25 April 1976 |
| 110 |  Myanmar | 12 October 1976 |
| 111 |  Chad | 18 October 1976 |
| 112 |  Mauritius | 18 October 1976 |
| 113 |  Comoros | 21 December 1976 |
| 114 |  Maldives | 29 January 1977 |
| 115 |  Malta | 11 April 1977 |
| 116 |  Botswana | 9 December 1977 |
| 117 |  Seychelles | 12 April 1978 |
| 118 |  Togo | 18 January 1979 |
| 119 |  Grenada | 14 April 1979 |
| 120 |  Gambia | 19 May 1979 |
| 121 |  Suriname | 31 May 1979 |
| 122 |  Lesotho | 14 June 1979 |
| 123 |  Sudan | 20 June 1979 |
| 124 |  Saint Lucia | 23 August 1979 |
| 125 |  Jordan | 7 September 1979 |
| 126 |  Rwanda | 7 September 1979 |
| — |  Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic | 21 January 1980 |
| 127 |  Zimbabwe | 20 April 1980 |
| 128 |  Vanuatu | 11 March 1983 |
| 129 |  Ivory Coast | 11 February 1986[72] |
| 130 |  Australia | 31 January 1989 |
| — |  State of Palestine | 3 February 1989[73][74] |
| 131 |  Somalia | 31 July 1989 |
| 132 |  Papua New Guinea | 13 October 1989[75][76] |
| 133 |  Qatar | 13 December 1989 |
| 134 |  Namibia | 23 March 1990 |
| 135 |  Estonia | 12 November 1991[77] |
| 136 |  Latvia | 20 December 1991 |
| 137 |  Ukraine | 12 March 1992 |
| 138 |  Moldova | 17 March 1992 |
| 139 |  Kyrgyzstan | 20 March 1992 |
| 140 |  Turkmenistan | 23 March 1992 |
| 141 |  Tajikistan | 25 March 1992 |
| 142 |  Armenia | 27 March 1992 |
| 143 |  Azerbaijan | 10 April 1992 |
| 144 |  Kazakhstan | 14 April 1992 |
| 145 |  Belarus | 16 April 1992 |
| 146 |  Georgia | 18 April 1992 |
| 147 |  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 26 May 1992 |
| 148 |  Slovenia | 22 September 1992[78] |
| 149 |  Croatia | 23 September 1992[79] |
| 150 |  Slovakia | 1 January 1993 |
| 151 |  Antigua and Barbuda | 6 April 1994 |
| 152 |  South Africa | 11 May 1994 |
| 153 |  Oman | 23 May 1994 |
| 154 |  Bahrain | 17 June 1994 |
| 155 |  Saint Kitts and Nevis | 10 May 1995 |
| 156 |  Belize | 15 July 1995 |
| 157 |  Eswatini | 22 September 1995 |
| 158 |  Andorra | 19 October 1995 |
| 159 |  Kenya | 19 October 1995 |
| 160 |  Dominica | 18 May 1996 |
| 161 |  San Marino | 28 May 1996 |
| 162 |  Eritrea | 8 November 1996 |
| 163 |  Brunei | 4 April 1997 |
| 164 |  Singapore | 18 April 1997 |
| 165 |  Bosnia and Herzegovina | 29 April 1997 |
| 166 |  Liechtenstein | 11 June 1997 |
| 167 |  Malawi | 10 December 1997 |
| 168 |  Djibouti | 20 November 1998[72] |
| 169 |  New Zealand | 17 February 1999 |
| 170 |  Ireland | 27 October 1999 |
| 171 |  Central African Republic | 3 March 2000 |
| 172 |  North Macedonia | 5 May 2000 |
| 173 |  United Arab Emirates | 18 March 2002 |
| 174 |  Nauru | 7 May 2002 |
| 175 |  Timor-Leste | 20 May 2002 |
| 176 |  Tonga | 17 June 2002 |
| 177 |  Fiji | 19 July 2002 |
| — |  Cook Islands | 1 September 2002 |
| 178 |  Kiribati | 1 September 2002 |
| 179 |  Solomon Islands | 19 December 2002 |
| 180 |  Uzbekistan | 13 March 2006 |
| 181 |  Tuvalu | 26 April 2006 |
| 182 |  Montenegro | 20 October 2006 |
| 183 |  Samoa | 11 October 2007 |
| 184 |  Monaco | 19 December 2007 |
| 185 |  South Sudan | 10 July 2011 |
| 186 |  Bhutan | 26 September 2011[72] |
| 187 |  Lithuania | 26 September 2013 |
| — |  Niue | 5 September 2014 |
| 188 |  Federated States of Micronesia | 9 September 2015 |
| 189 |  Palau | 26 September 2015 |
| 190 |  Marshall Islands | 27 September 2015 |
| 191 |  South Korea | 14 February 2024[80] |
| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Angola | SeeAngola–Cuba relations | |
| Ethiopia | 18 July 1975 | SeeCuba–Ethiopia relations
|
| Kenya | SeeCuba–Kenya relations
| |
| Libya | 1 March 1976 | SeeCuba–Libya relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 March 1976.[82] |
| Namibia | SeeCuba–Namibia relations Cuban-Namibian relations began during theSouth African Border War, when Cuba helped establish a number of training camps inAngola for thePeople's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN), armed wing of theSouth West African People's Organisation (SWAPO).[83] Cuba also supported both SWAPO and PLAN through a number of political and diplomatic initiatives.[84] Since independence, Namibia and Cuba have held joint meetings every two years for Economic, Scientific-Technical and Commercial Cooperation. In 2005, it was reported that 1,460 Cuban professionals had worked in Namibia, including 208 in 2005.[84]
| |
| Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic | 30 January 1980 | SeeCuba–Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic relations |
| Sierra Leone | The Cuban government initially pledged to send one hundred and sixty five health workers toSierra Leone to take part in combating theEbola virus epidemic in West Africa.[85] Later the Cuban government expanded this pledge with an additional three hundred health workers being sent throughout the region.[86] | |
| South Africa | SeeCuba–South Africa relations |
Cuba has supported a number of leftist groups and parties in Latin America and the Caribbean since the 1959 revolution. In the 1960s Cuba established close ties with the emergingGuatemalan social movement led by Luis Augusto Turcios Lima, and supported the establishment of theURNG, a militant organization that has evolved into one of Guatemala's current political parties. In the 1980s Cuba backed both theSandinistas inNicaragua and theFMLN inEl Salvador, providing military and intelligence training, weapons, guidance, and organizational support.
| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | 12 May 1909 | SeeArgentina–Cuba relations
|
| Bolivia | SeeBolivia–Cuba relations
| |
| Brazil | SeeBrazil–Cuba relations With the electoral win of the President ofBrazil,Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in 2002 ties between Cuba and Brazil steadily warmed. Brazil continued to play its part in trying to revive and upgrade the offshore oil and gas infrastructure of Cuba.[90] In addition, talks led by Brazil were underway seeking to develop a framework for Cuba to become a normalised affiliate member of theMercosur bloc of countries.[91] Brazilian-Cuban relations deteriorated greatly under the presidency of Brazilian rightwing presidentJair Bolsonaro since 2019 .He stopped Mais Medicos (More Doctors) programme and thousands of Cuban doctors left Brazil.[92][93] In November 2019, Brazil voted for the first time against an annual United Nations resolution condemning and calling for an end to Washington's economic embargo on Cuba.[94] | |
| Canada | 1945 | SeeCanada–Cuba relations Canada has always maintained consistently cordial relations with Cuba, in spite of considerable pressure from the United States, and the island is also one of the most popular travel destinations for Canadian citizens. Canada-Cuba relations can be traced back to the 18th century, when vessels from theAtlantic provinces of Canada traded codfish and beer for rum and sugar. Cuba was the first country in the Caribbean selected by Canada for a diplomatic mission. Official diplomatic relations were established in 1945, when Emile Vaillancourt, a noted writer and historian, was designated Canada's representative in Cuba. Canada and Mexico were the only two countries in the hemisphere to maintain uninterrupted diplomatic relations with Cuba following the Cuban Revolution in 1959. In 1994, a joint venture was formed between the Cuban Nickel Union and the Canadian firmSherritt International, which operates a mining and processing plant on the island inMoa. A second enterprise, Cobalt Refinery Co. Inc., was created in Alberta for nickel refining. Canada has been critical of the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba, and strongly objected to theHelms-Burton Act. In 1996 Foreign Affairs MinisterLloyd Axworthy stated: "Canada shares the U.S. objectives of improving human rights standards and moving to more representative government in Cuba. But we are concerned that the Helms-Burton Act takes the wrong approach. That is why we have been working with other countries to uphold the principles of international law". In 1996 aPrivate Member's Bill was introduced, but not made law, in theCanadian Parliament; this law called theGodfrey–Milliken Bill was in response to the extraterritoriality of the aforementioned Act. Former Prime MinisterPierre Trudeau andFidel Castro were personal friends. Castro was among Pierre Trudeau's pallbearers athis funeral in 2000. Former Prime MinisterJean Chrétien and Fidel Castro also maintained a close relationship. |
| Chile | SeeChile–Cuba relations See also:Fidel Castro's state visit to Chile Cuba has been since the 1960s a reference point to left wing politicians inChile. Recently relations to Cuba has been hot subject inConcertación politics since theChristian Democrat Party of Chile, member of the Concertación, has supported a harder line in the diplomatic relations with Cuba while theSocialist Party of Chile has opposed this.[citation needed] In 1971, despite anOrganization of American States convention that no nation in the Western Hemisphere would have a relationship with Cuba (the only exception being Mexico, which had refused to adopt that convention), Castro took a month-long visit to Chile, following the re-establishment of diplomatic relations with Cuba. The visit, in which Castro participated actively in the internal politics of the country, holding massive rallies and giving public advice toSalvador Allende, was seen by those on the political right as proof to support their view that "The Chilean Way to Socialism" was an effort to put Chile on the same path as Cuba.[97]
| |
| Colombia | SeeColombia–Cuba relations Cuba gave training, money, medicines, weapons and safe haven to members ofColombian guerrilla movements, especially to theELN and also to members of theFARC, both of which were founded in the early 1960s. In the years leading up to his death, Fidel Castro made gestures of reconciliation with different Colombian government administrations, and has been considered responsible for facilitating talks between them and the opposing guerrilla groups.
| |
| Costa Rica | Costa Rica broke relations with Cuba in 1961 to protest Cuban support of the left in Central America and renewed formal diplomatic ties with Fidel Castro's government in March 2009. In 1995, Costa Rica established a consular office in Havana. Cuba opened a consular office in Costa Rica in 2001, but relations continued to be difficult. In 2006, shortly after the death ofAugusto Pinochet, Costa Rican PresidentÓscar Arias compared Fidel Castro's human rights record to that of the former Chilean president. In response, Cuban officials released a statement describing the Washington aligned Arias as a "vulgar mercenary" of U.S. officials, and asserting that Washington "always had on hand another opportunistic clown ready to follow its aggressive plans against Cuba."[98][99]
| |
| Dominican Republic | SeeCuba-Dominican Republic relations
| |
| El Salvador | Cuba andEl Salvador resumed diplomatic relations on June 1, 2009. El Salvador previously suspended diplomatic relations with Cuba in 1961 due to the Cuban Revolution.[100] Diplomatic ties were resumed after El Salvador's new presidentMauricio Funes, who had pledged to reestablish them, was sworn into office. El Salvador is also the very last Latin American nation to resume diplomatic relations with Cuba.[101]
| |
| Grenada | SeeCuba–Grenada relations
| |
| Guatemala | SeeCuba–Guatemala relations
| |
| Guyana | 1972 |
|
| Haiti | SeeCuba-Haiti relations
| |
| Jamaica | 1972 | SeeCuba–Jamaica relations
|
| Mexico | 1902 | SeeCuba–Mexico relations Before the Cuban revolution,Mexico was the country where several Cubans were exiled fleeing political persecution by the government of Batista likeJulio Antonio Mella, Juan Marinello,Fidel Castro andRaúl Castro. After the Cuban revolution when Cuba was expelled from theOrganization of American States, Mexico did not support this resolution and abstained, claiming a non-intervention policy. Relations were stable from 1934 to 1998. Although the relationship between Cuba and Mexico remains strained, each side appears to make attempts to improve it. In 1998, Fidel Castro apologized when he said that "Mexican kids knewMickey Mouse better than national heroes of their own country", which led Mexico to recall its ambassador from Havana.[103] Rather, he said, his words were meant to underscore the cultural dominance of the US.[104] MexicanPresidentVicente Fox apologized to Fidel Castro in 2002 over statements by Castro, who had taped their telephone conversation, to the effect that Fox forced him to leave a United Nations summit in Mexico so that he would not be in the presence of President Bush, who also attended.[105] In 2004, Mexico suspended relations with Cuba after businessmanCarlos Ahumada was arrested and deported to Mexico and the paperwork provided by the Cuban government proved that there was a plan from the Mexican government to make a complot against the potential presidential candidate from the opposition partyAndrés Manuel López Obrador. In April 2012, Mexican presidentFelipe Calderón made a two-day visit to Havana. In January 2014, Mexican presidentEnrique Peña Nieto paid an official visit to Cuba.[106]
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| Panama | Cuba andPanama have restored diplomatic ties after breaking them off in 2004 when Panama's former presidentMireya Moscoso pardoned four Cubans, includingLuis Posada Carriles, who were accused of attempting to assassinate Cuban PresidentFidel Castro. The foreign minister of each country re-established official diplomatic relations in Havana by signing a document describing a spirit of fraternity that has long linked both nations.[109] In March 2009, the governments of Costa Rica and El Salvador announced that they plan on re-establishing full diplomatic relations with Cuba.[110]
| |
| Peru | SeeCuba–Peru relations
| |
| Suriname | SeeCuba–Suriname relations
| |
| United States | SeeCuba–United States relations TheCuban Revolution led to the deterioration of relations between the two countries, with diplomatic ties broken on January 3, 1961. After an initial 54-year stretch of hostility, relations eased briefly from 2015 to 2017 in an effort known as theCuban thaw. Thediplomatic détente was reversed by the U.S. government shortly thereafter due to a variety of subsequent geopolitical issues. Modern diplomatic relations remain cold, stemming from historic conflict and divergent political ideologies.[111][112]
| |
| Uruguay | SeeCuba–Uruguay relations
| |
| Venezuela | SeeCuba–Venezuela relations Relations between Cuba andVenezuela significantly improved during thePresidency of Hugo Chávez. Chávez formed a major alliance with Cuban president Fidel Castro and significant trade relationship with Cuba since his election in 1999. The warm relationship between the two countries continued to intensify.[115] Hugo Chávez described Castro as his mentor[116] and called Cuba "a revolutionary democracy".[117] In 2005 the two countries also signed cooperation agreements in the area of energy and electricity, an accord between Venezuela's oil companyPDVSA and its Cuban counterpartCupet to buy and sell crude oil and a crude oil storage agreement between the two companies.[118] Hugo Chávez, who said he was one of the few people in the world who knew Castro's illness from July 31, 2006, helped Cuba undermine a strict U.S. embargo by sending cheap oil and boosting commercial relations. Agreements between Cuba and Venezuela, the world's No. 5 oil exporter, have brought more than 20,000 Cuban doctors to Venezuela to provide medical services for the poor. The program, one of numerous oil-funded social projects, helped Chávez build a strong political support base, and he won a reelection bid in December 2006.[119] A U.S. official told theMiami Herald in 2016 that U.S. estimates of total Venezuelan subsidies to Cuba per year "are up to the $2 billion figure." This is comparable to the $4 billion to $6 billion that the Soviet Union once pumped into Cuba per year.[120]
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| Region | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Armenia | 27 March 1992 | |
| Azerbaijan | 27 March 1992[122] | SeeAzerbaijan–Cuba relations
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| China | SeeChina–Cuba relations As the economy of theSoviet Union fell into a decline which ultimately led toits collapse in 1991, thePeople's Republic of China has emerged as a new key partner for Cuba's foreign relations and the guardian ofsocialist countries around the world. Relations between Cuba and China continue to grow including deals for China to set up a possible military base in Cuba, similar to theBejucal Base and an agreement was signed between China and Cuba for China open more factories producing local goods such as televisions. Cuba has also purchased from China a wide range of items including bicycles, buses, refrigerators, rice cookers, energy-saving lightbulbs and diesel-electric locomotives with the aim of providing a boost to Cuba's national infrastructure.[123] | |
| India | SeeCuba–India relations Relations between India and Cuba have generally been warm and cordial since the Cuban revolution. Both nations are part of theNon-Aligned Movement and Cuba has repeatedly called for a more "democratic" representation of the United Nations Security Council, supporting India's candidacy for permanent membership on a reformed Security Council.[124]Fidel Castro had said that "The maturity of India…, its unconditional adherence to the principles which lay at the foundation of the Non-Aligned Movement give us the assurances that under the wise leadership ofIndira Gandhi (the formerPrime Minister of India), the non-aligned countries will continue advancing in their inalienable role as a bastion for peace, national independence and development…"[125] India provided Cuba with 10,000 tonnes of wheat and 10,000 tonnes of rice in 1992 when Cuba was undergoing hardship. Fidel Castro termed the donation as the "Bread of India" because it was sufficient for one loaf of bread for each one of the then Cuban population of eleven million people.[125]India also provided donations worth two million dollars during the Cuban earthquake.[126]
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| Indonesia | SeeCuba–Indonesia relations
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| Iran | SeeIran–Cuba relations Iran has a productive trade balance with Cuba. The two governments signed a document to bolster cooperation in Havana in January 2006.[127] PresidentMahmoud Ahmadinejad called relations "firm and progressive" over the past three decades.[128] Ahmadinejad made an official visit to the island in January 2012 as part of a series of official visits to various countries in Latin America.[129] During his brief stay in Cuba, Ahmadinejad met with Fidel Castro and said that the two countries were "fighting on the same front."[130]
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| Iraq | SeeCuba–Iraq relations
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| Israel | SeeCuba–Israel relations On 29 November 1947, Cuba voted against theUnited Nations Partition Plan for Palestine, the Cuban delegation stating they would vote against partition because they could not be party to coercing the majority in Palestine.[131] Nevertheless, Israel came into being on 14 May 1948, and Cuba recognised theState of Israelde facto on 14 January 1949. In March 1949 Cuba voted in the UN Security Council in favour of admission of Israel to the United Nations, and recognised Israelde jure on 18 April 1949.[132] In May of that year Cuba also voted in favour of Israel's admission to the UN in the UN General Assembly. Israel-Cuba relations have been icy since the 1960s. Cuba didn't succumb to Arab pressure to sever relations with Israel, but sent troops to fight against Israel during theWar of Attrition (1967–70), and also joined the expeditionary forces during the 1973Yom Kippur War, and broke diplomatic relations with Israel the same year. Israel has been the only country to consistently vote with the U.S. in the UN General Assembly against the annualresolution criticizing the embargo, which began in 1992. In late 2010,Fidel Castro, who no longer held office in Cuba's government, stated that he believes Israel has a "right to exist", which is a shift from his regime's earlier policy.[133] Margalit Bejarano posed in 2015 that any future relationship between Israel and Cuba will not solely rest on the course that will take Havana-Washington ties, but will also factor in Cuba's dependence on Iran, on Venezuela and its closeness to the Palestinians.[134][135] In the light of thethaw in US-Cuba relations, the Israeli government is re-examining the state of its relations with Cuba – Israel is presently represented in Cuba through an interest section in the Canadian embassy.[136] | |
| Japan | 21 December 1929 | SeeCuba–Japan relations Cuba and Japan established diplomatic relations on 21 December 1929. |
| Malaysia | SeeCuba–Malaysia relations
| |
| Mongolia | 7 December 1960 |
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| Nepal | 25 March 1975[138] |
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| North Korea | 29 August 1960 | SeeCuba–North Korea relations The Republic of Cuba has had diplomatic relations withNorth Korea since 29 August 1960.[139] Cuba maintains an embassy inPyongyang and North Korea maintains an embassy inHavana.Che Guevara then aCuban government minister visited North Korea in 1960 and proclaimed it a model for Cuba to follow.[140] Cuban leaderFidel Castro visited in 1986. In 2013 a North Korean cargo ship seized while travelling through thePanama Canal and was found to be carrying weapons from Cuba, apparently to be repaired in North Korea. The ship was later returned to the North Korean government. |
| Pakistan | SeeCuba–Pakistan relations The relations between the two countries strengthened after Cuba provided humanitarian assistance to the victims of the2005 Kashmir earthquake. Both nations continue to strengthen the bilateral relations especially in the fields of higher education, agriculture, industry and science and technology and have also held talks for military cooperation. In March 2008 ambassador Gustavo Machin Gomez met Gen.Tariq Majid, theChairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) at Joint Staff Headquarters and discussed issues related to military cooperation. Both of them expressed positive views over the increasing relations between the two nations and were optimistic that the bilateral cooperation will expand in different fields. Majid stressed that Pakistan has formed strong defence infrastructure both in defence production and in shape of military academies to provide help and cooperation to theMilitary of Cuba. He also said that both countries should use their capacity for expanding military cooperation. In an interview with Overseas Pakistani Friends, Machin Gomez suggested further ways that Cuba and Pakistan might be able to help each other.[141]
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| Philippines | SeeCuba-Philippines relations Like Cuba, thePhilippines was once aSpanish possession, and Spanish rule in both colonies ended with the victory of the United States in theSpanish–American War. Provisions in the subsequent 1898Treaty of Paris gave Cuba independence while giving the Philippine Islands over toAmerican control, which was gradually lessened until the country achieved full sovereignty on 4 July 1946. Despite the Philippines being a long-time American ally, it has denounced theAmerican sanctions against Cuba.[142]
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| South Korea | 14 February 2024 | SeeCuba–South Korea relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 12 July 1949, Cuba was the first country that recognize South Korea in Latin America. There was no official-level diplomatic relation between the Cuba andSouth Korea from 1 January 1959 to 14 February 2024. Despite this there has been unofficial interactions in the economic level between the two countries. For instance South Korea'sHyundai Heavy Industries sent Packaged power station mobile generators to Cuba for the country's power grids. A picture of a PPS was later incorporated into the 10Cuban convertible peso banknote.[143] |
| Syria | SeeCuba–Syria relations | |
| Turkey | 1952[144] | SeeCuba–Turkey relations |
| Uzbekistan | 13 March 2006 | SeeCuba–Uzbekistan relations
|
| Vietnam | December 1960 | SeeCuba–Vietnam relations Diplomatic relations between the two countries was established in December 1960. Since then, Vietnam has become Cuba's second-largest trading partner in Asia, with Vietnam trailing behind China. Vietnam, just as Cuba is, is aCommunist state andsocialist state.[145] |
| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
 European Union | SeeCuba–European Union relations European Union (EU) relations with Cuba are governed by the Common Position, as approved by theEuropean Council of Ministers in 1996, which is updated every six months following regular evaluations. According to the Common Position "the objective of the European Union in its relations with Cuba is to encourage a process of transition to a pluralist democracy and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as sustainable recovery and improvement in the living standards of the Cuban people". Cuba rejects the Common Position as interference in its internal affairs. There is an EU Delegation in Havana that works under the responsibility of the EC Delegation inSanto Domingo,Dominican Republic. Cuba benefits from the GPS (Generalized Preference System) preferential treatment for its exports. Furthermore, Cuba does not benefit from the ACP-EU Sugar Protocol but from a sugar quota granted by the EU (some 59,000 tonnes per year; duty paid on this quota is EUR 98/t).[146] | |
| Belgium | During Spanish Governor-general period, Cuba was offered for sale in 1837.[147]
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| France | SeeCuba–France relations | |
| Greece | SeeCuba–Greece relations
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| Holy See | SeeCuba–Holy See relations
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| Ireland | ||
| Italy | ||
| Poland | 1933 | SeeCuba–Poland relations
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| Russia | SeeCuba–Russia relations Relations between the two countries suffered somewhat during theBoris Yeltsin administration, as Cuba was forced to look for new major allies, such as China, after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Relations improved whenVladimir Putin was elected as the new Russian President. Putin, and laterDmitry Medvedev, emphasized re-establishing strong relations with old Soviet allies. In 2008, Medvedev visited Havana andRaúl Castro made a week-long trip to Moscow. In that same year the two governments signed multiple economic agreements and Russia sent tons of humanitarian aid to Cuba. Cuba, meanwhile, gave staunch political support for Russia during the2008 South Ossetia war. Relations between the two nations are currently at a post-Soviet high, and talks about potentially re-establishing a Russian military presence in Cuba are even beginning to surface.
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| Serbia | SeeCuba–Serbia relations Cuba andSerbia have a long history of diplomatic relations from the period ofSocialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia when both countries were members ofNon-Aligned Movement. Cuba supports Serbia in itsstance towardsKosovo consideringKosovo's independence an illegitimate act and a violation ofinternational law and principles of theUnited Nations Charter.[154] Serbia supports Cuba at theUnited Nations in condemning theUnited States embargo.[155]
| |
| Spain | 1899 | SeeCuba–Spain relations
|
| United Kingdom | 20 May 1902 | SeeCuba–United Kingdom relations.jpg) Cuba establisheddiplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 20 May 1902.[33]
Both countries share common membership of theWorld Trade Organization. Bilaterally the two countries have an Investment Agreement,[160] and a Political Dialogue and Co-operation Agreement.[161] |
Cuba has two embassies in Oceania, located inWellington (opened in November 2007)[162] and also one inCanberra opened October 24, 2008. It also has aConsulate General inSydney.[163] However, Cuba has official diplomatic relations withNauru since 2002[164] and theSolomon Islands since 2003,[165] and maintains relations with other Pacific countries by providing aid.
In 2008, Cuba will reportedly be sending doctors to theSolomon Islands,Vanuatu,Tuvalu, Nauru and Papua New Guinea,[166] while seventeen medical students from Vanuatu will study in Cuba.[167] It may also provide training for Fiji doctors. Indeed, Fiji's ambassador to the United Nations,Berenado Vunibobo, has stated that his country may seek closer relations with Cuba, and in particular medical assistance, following a decline inFiji's relations with New Zealand.[168]
| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | 1989 | Australia and Cuba have a growing relationship on positive terms. Relations began in 1989. Relations were given a rebirth in 2009 when the foreign ministerStephen Smith visited Cuba. In 2010, Cuba's foreign minister Bruno Rodríguez visited Australia. The ministers signed a memorandum of understanding in political cooperation between the foreign ministries and for closer bilateral relations. There is a Cuban embassy in Australia. It was opened on 24 October 2008. There are only two Australia–Cuba bilateral treaties, extended to Australia by theBritish Empire covering extradition. |
| Kiribati | SeeCuba–Kiribati relations Relations between Cuba and Kiribati are nascent, having developed in the 2000s (decade). Like other countries in Oceania, Kiribati is a beneficiary of Cuban medical aid; bilateral relations betweenTarawa and Havana should be viewed within the scope ofCuba's regional policy in Oceania. There are currently sixteen Cuban doctors providing specialised medical care inKiribati, with sixteen more scheduled to join them.[171] Cubans have also offered training to I-Kiribati doctors.[172] Cuban doctors have reportedly provided a dramatic improvement to the field of medical care in Kiribati, reducing the child mortality rate in that country by 80 percent,[173] and winning the proverbial hearts and minds in the Pacific. In response, theSolomon Islands began recruiting Cuban doctors in July 2007, whilePapua New Guinea andFiji considered following suit.[173] | |
| Nauru | In June 2007,Nauru adopted the "Cuban literacy method", reportedly used also in several other countries.[174] In October 2007, Nauruan Foreign Minister and Trade MinisterDavid Adeang travelled to Cuba to strengthen relations between the two island nations.[175] This led to the creation of a Cuba-Nauru Joint Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Cooperation.[176] An unspecified number of Cuban doctors are serving in Nauru. | |
| New Zealand | Regarding relations withNew Zealand, Cuban ambassador José Luis Robaina García said his country had "admiration forNew Zealand's independent foreign policy".[162]
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| Solomon Islands | SeeCuba – Solomon Islands relations Relations between theSolomon Islands and Cuba have only a short history. The two countries moved to establish relations from the 2000s (decade), and particularly from 2007, within the context of Cuba's growing interest in thePacific Islands region. Like other countries in Oceania, Solomon Islands is a beneficiary of Cuban medical aid; bilateral relations between Havana andHoniara must be viewed within the scope ofCuba's regional policy in Oceania. In April 2007, theSolomon Star reported that theSolomon Islands' High Commissioner to the United Nations was soon to be sworn in as Ambassador to Cuba.[179] In September 2007, it was announced that 40 Cuban doctors would be sent to the Solomon Islands.[180] The Solomons' Minister of Foreign AffairsPatterson Oti said that Solomon Islander doctors would "learn from their Cuban colleagues in specialized areas".[181] In addition to providing doctors, Cuba provided scholarships for 50 Solomon Islanders to study medicine in Cuba for free.[165][182] | |
| Tuvalu | SeeCuba–Tuvalu relations Relations between Tuvalu and Cuba are recent, having developed in the 2000s (decade). Like other countries in Oceania, Tuvalu is a beneficiary ofCuban medical aid; bilateral relations betweenFunafuti and Havana must be viewed within the scope ofCuba's regional policy in Oceania. | |
| Vanuatu | SeeCuba–Vanuatu relations Relations between the Republic ofVanuatu and Cuba began shortly after the former gained its independence fromFrance and the United Kingdom in 1980, and began establishingits own foreign policy as a newly independent state. Vanuatu and Cuba established official diplomatic relations in 1983.[183] |
ACS •ALBA •AOSIS •CELAC •CTO •ECLAC •G33 •G77 •IAEA •ICAO •ICRM •IFAD •ILO •IMO •Interpol •IOC •ISO •ITU •LAES •NAM •OAS •OEI •OPANAL •OPCW •PAHO •Rio Group •UN •UNCTAD •UNESCO •UPU •WCO •WHO •WIPO •WMO
Ties between the nations of theCaribbean Community (CARICOM) and Cuba have remained cordial over the course of the later half of the 20th century.[184] Formal diplomatic relations between the CARICOM economic giants:Barbados,Jamaica,Guyana andTrinidad and Tobago have existed since 1972,[185][186] and have over time led to an increase in cooperation between theCARICOM Heads of Government and Cuba. At a summit meeting of sixteen Caribbean countries in 1998, Fidel Castro called for regional unity, saying that only strengthened cooperation between Caribbean countries would prevent their domination by rich nations in a global economy.[187] Cuba, for many years regionally isolated, increased grants and scholarships to the Caribbean countries.
To celebrate ties between the Caribbean Community and Cuba in 2002 the Heads of Government of Cuba and CARICOM have designated the day of December 8 to be called 'CARICOM-Cuba Day'.[188] The day is the exact date of the formal opening of diplomatic relations between the first CARICOM-four and Cuba.
In December 2005, during the second CARICOM/CUBA summit held in Barbados, heads of CARICOM and Cuba agreed to deepen their ties in the areas of socio-economic and political cooperation in addition to medical care assistance. Since the meeting, Cuba has opened four additional embassies in the Caribbean Community including:Antigua and Barbuda,Dominica,Suriname, andSaint Vincent and the Grenadines. This development makes Cuba the only nation to have embassies in all independent countries of the Caribbean Community.[189] CARICOM and Canadian politicians[190] have jointly maintained that through the International inclusion of Cuba, a more positive change might indeed be brought about there (politically) as has been witnessed in thePeople's Republic of China.
Cuban cooperation with the Caribbean was extended by a joint health programme between Cuba and Venezuela namedOperación Milagro, set up in 2004. The initiative is part of the Sandino commitment, which sees both countries coming together with the aim of offering free ophthalmology operations to an estimated 4.5 million people in Latin America and the Caribbean over a ten-year period.[191] According toDenzil Douglas, the prime minister ofSt. Kitts and Nevis, more than 1,300 students from member nations are studying in Cuba while more than 1,000 Cuban doctors, nurses and other technicians are working throughout the region. In 1998 Trinidadian and Tobagonian Prime MinisterPatrick Manning had a heart valve replacement surgery in Cuba and returned in 2004 to have a pacemaker implanted.
In December 2008 the CARICOM Heads of Government opened the third Cuba-CARICOM Summit in Cuba. The summit is to look at closer integration of the Caribbean Community and Cuba.[192] During the summit the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) bestowed Fidel Castro with the highest honour of CARICOM,The Honorary Order of the Caribbean Community which is presented in exceptional circumstances to those who have offered their services in an outstanding way and have made significant contributions to the region.[193][194]
In 2017 Cuba and theCaribbean Community (CARICOM) bloc signed the "CARICOM-Cuba Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement"[195]
Cuba was formerly excluded from participation in theOrganization of American States under a decision adopted by the Eighth Meeting of Consultation inPunta del Este,Uruguay, on 21 January 1962. The resolution stated that as Cuba had officially identified itself as a Marxist–Leninist government, it was incompatible with "the principles and objectives of the inter-American system."[196] This stance was frequently questioned by some member states. This situation came to an end on 3 June 2009, when foreign ministers assembled inSan Pedro Sula,Honduras, for the OAS's 39thGeneral Assembly, passed a vote to lift Cuba's suspension from the OAS. In its resolution (AG/RES 2438), the General Assembly decided that:
The reincorporation of Cuba as an active member had arisen regularly as a topic within the inter-American system (e.g., it was intimated by the outgoing ambassador of Mexico in 1998)[197] but most observers did not see it as a serious possibility while the Socialist government remained in power. On 6 May 2005,President Fidel Castro reiterated that the island nation would not "be part of a disgraceful institution that has only humiliated the honor of Latin American nations".[198]
In an editorial published byGranma, Fidel Castro applauded the Assembly's "rebellious" move and said that the date would "be recalled by future generations."[199] However, a Declaration of the Revolutionary Government dated 8 June 2009 stated that while Cuba welcomed the Assembly's gesture, in light of the Organization's historical record "Cuba will not return to the OAS".[200]
Cuba joined theLatin American Integration Association becoming the tenth member (out of 12) on 26 August 1999. The organization was set up in 1980 to encourage trade integration association. Its main objective is the establishment of a common market, in pursuit of the economic and social development of the region.
On September 15, 2006, Cuba officially took over leadership of theNon-Aligned Movement during the 14th summit of the organization in Havana.[201]
Cuba became a staunch ally of the USSR during the Cold War, modeling its political structure after that of theCPSU. Owing to the fundamental role Internationalism plays in Cuban socialist ideology, Cuba became a major supporter of liberation movements not only in Latin America, but across the globe.[202]
In the 1960s and 1970s, Cuba openly supported the black nationalist and Marxist-orientedBlack Panther Party of the U.S. Many members found their way into Cuba for political asylum, where Cuba welcomed them as refugees after they had been convicted in the U.S.[203]
Cuba also lent support toPalestiniannationalist groups againstIsrael, namely thePalestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and lesser-knownMarxist–LeninistPopular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). Fidel Castro called Israel practices "Zionist Fascism." The Palestinians received training from Cuba's General Intelligence Directorate, as well as financial and diplomatic support from the Cuban government. However, in 2010, Castro indicated that he also strongly supported Israel's right to exist.[204]
TheIrish Republican political party,Sinn Féin has political links to the Cuban government. Fidel Castro expressed support for the Irish Republican cause of aUnited Ireland.[205]
Since the establishment of the Revolutionary Government of Cuba in 1959, the country has sent more than 52,000 medical workers abroad to work in needy countries, including countries affected by the2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and the2005 Kashmir earthquake.[206] There are currently about 20,000 Cuban doctors working in 68 countries across three continents, including a 135-strong medical team inJava,Indonesia.[207]
Read more about Cuba's medical collaboration in Africa at:
Cuba provides Medical Aid to Children Affected by Chernobyl Nuclear Accident:
Sr. Octavio Lamar y Páez... 13 de julio de 1906
Cuba was one of the first coun-tries to acknowledge the Palestinian State. I say here that on 3 February we inaugurated the first embassy ot the Palestinian State in Latin America.
.. Papua New Guinea and Cuba establish diplomatic ties PNG Foreign Minister Michael Somare signed a formal agreement to establish diplomatic relations with Cuba in New York on 13th October
Representations of other countries in Cuba
Cuban representations to other countries
Aspects of Cuba's foreign policy
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