Havana Cuba. – The “continuity” government is handing over the Cuban nation to Vladimir Putin, in its desperation to overcome the economic debacle and preserve absolute power, endangered by growing social discontent. Cuba is left in the middle of the confrontation with the United States, while its foreign relations, influence in CELAC, and international anti-embargo support from the United States could be damaged.
President Miguel Díaz-Canel ratified his unconditional support for the Russian Federation during the recent visit to Havana by Dmitry Chernyshenko, vice president who is very close to the Slavic leader. Thus, the ruler of the Island justified the invasion of Ukrainewith far greater implications than Fidel Castro’s support for the crushing of the rebellion in Czechoslovakia in 1968. For his part, Chernyshenko demonstrated the immense scope of the commitments made by the Cuban authorities by announcing that his country would demand changes in Cuban legislation.
Anastás Mikoyán, Deputy Prime Minister of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) arrived in Cuba in February 1960, in order to take advantage of the political confrontation that was emerging with the United States. To compensate for the start of the economic sanctions, he was the bearer of a credit of 100 million dollars and the exchange of sugar for oil. Fidel Castro challenged the administration of Dwight Eisenhower, based on the support of millions of Cubans motivated by the promises of democracy, better living conditions and economic boom, and taking advantage of the confrontation between the United States and the USSR.
On May 8 of that year, the diplomatic relations interrupted in 1952 by Fulgencio Batista were resumed; and in October 1962 the world was about to collapse due to a possible Third World War, after the placement of Soviet nuclear rockets in Cuba.
Until the disappearance of the USSR, bilateral relations had ups and downs, but the economic support of the socialist countries contributed to the waste of the “Commander” until the end of the 1980s with the arrival of the so-called “Special Period in Times of Peace”. ”.
It was not until 2000 that Putin visited Havana to mend relations, although months later he provoked Castro’s wrath by removing the listening station from the Lourdes Base in Havana. Raúl Castro traveled to Moscow in 2009 and 2012, seeking to diversify dependence on Venezuela. Currently, it seems that the general’s old sympathies with Russia and the urgent needs for financing and supplies have prevailed over the adaptation of the more sensible economic reforms and investments from China and Vietnam.
The sudden interest of some 50 Russian businessmen participating in the recent Business Economic Forum, coinciding with Chernyshenko’s visit, could be motivated by the difficulties to trade and invest in the world due to the sanctions applied by the United States and dozens of countries as a result. of the seizure of the Crimean peninsula in 2014 and the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Along with taking over the potential of Cuba, this could be the basis for producing and exporting to Latin America, using the facilities of the Mariel Special Development Zone, the supposedly Cuban maritime transport, and the large ships that can already arrive. to that port as long as Russia does not have access to the Panama Canal.
The negotiations in the Intergovernmental Commission and the Business Forum concluded with the signing of eight agreements. It aspires to bring Russian tourism to half a million annual visitors, to the construction or operation of hotels and to increase flights. The use of MIR credit cards it will continue to spread. The sugar mills could be modernized, as is the case with the Central Uruguay.
The potential for investment in Cuba is immense, due to the needs for equipment and modernization of agriculture and industries. The conduct of the economy and the management of state companies require openness and optimization. However, the history of reform, the sale of state companies, the big capital of the hierarchs and corruption create doubts about the advisability of advising and selling to the great Russian bear. The Cubans will once again depend on Russian canned meat, wheat flour and fuel, they will support the invasion of Ukraine without the right to express an opinion, and hopefully the conscription will not begin to fight in defense of Donbas.
OPINION ARTICLE
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