By Sergey V. Lavrov on May 7, 2025
What brings them so close together and what makes them increasingly dear to the land of snow and the island of coconut trees –to my Russia and my Cuba? – Evgueni Yevtushenko, “Russia and Cuba” (1963)
On May 8, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Cuba celebrate an emblematic date – the 65th anniversary of the reestablishment of bilateral diplomatic relations. I am pleased to note that, despite the geographical distance, our countries are united by close ties of brotherhood proven by many years of cooperation in the spirit of strategic partnership.
This was made possible in large part by the solid foundations of friendship and trust forged in the 1960s, following the triumph of the Cuban Revolution led by Fidel Castro Ruz.
Comandante Fidel did a great deal both to develop our bilateral relations and to consolidate the values of peace, freedom, truth, and justice in world affairs. For many generations of Russian citizens, his name has become a symbol of selfless service to the Cuban people.
I cherish the memories of my many encounters with Fidel, including the last one, which took place in 2014. The legendary Comandante never failed to demonstrate precision in his judgments, a fundamental understanding of events on the international stage, his extensive knowledge, and his insight.
The numerous visits of the leader of the Cuban Revolution to our country will forever remain in the annals of Russian-Cuban relations, and above all, his first tour of the republics of the Soviet Union, which took place in 1963 and lasted 38 days. That historic milestone was preceded by trips to the USSR by the then Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba, Raúl Castro Ruz, in 1960 and 1962, respectively.
Since then, our sincere friendship with Cuba has only grown stronger. This fact has been reflected in several creative works whose popularity has transcended the borders of Russia. We recall the song Cuba, mi amor, composed by Aleksandra Pajmutova, with lyrics by Nikolai Dobronravov and Sergei Grebennikov, which has been sung at different times by stars of our music such as Iosif Kobzon and Muslim Magomayev, as well as numerous verses by various poets.
If we look back at history, we can find the most brilliant manifestations of Russian-Cuban friendship. Examples include the fluid correspondence between the great Russian writer Leo Tolstoy and Cuban admirers of his work, the “Cuban series” of paintings by the prominent Russian painter Vasily Vereshchagin, and the repeated visits to our country by the great Cuban chess player and third world champion José Raúl Capablanca. This also includes the trips to Cuba by the herald of the Soviet era, the poet Vladimir Mayakovsky, as well as tours by Russian and world ballet stars Anna Pavlova and Maya Plisetskaya. For her part, the Cuban prima ballerina assoluta, Alicia Alonso, performed successfully on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow.
The main driving force behind Russian-Cuban relations has always been and continues to be regular contacts at the highest level. Literally these days, the President of the Republic of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, is visiting our country to participate in the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.
In Russia, we have always valued Cuba’s contribution to the fight against Nazism, including the help provided by the island’s democratic, labor, and trade union organizations, which sent essential products and goods to the USSR during the war years. We cherish the memory of the Cubans who fought on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War, far from their homeland. Among them are Jorge Vivó, who fought in a guerrilla detachment near Leningrad; his brother Aldo Vivó, who fell defending the small piece of land known as the Neva River’s last inch; and Enrique Vilar, who gave his life in the battle for Poland’s liberation.
Today, Cuba is a reliable ally in foreign policy and a priority partner for Russia in Latin America. Together with our Cuban friends, we stand in solidarity on the overwhelming majority of issues on the global agenda. We support the approach of the World Majority in shaping a more just multipolar world order that takes into account the interests of all states without exception, including small and medium-sized ones. As members of the Group of Friends in Defense of the United Nations Charter, Moscow and Havana advocate that the principles enshrined in this basic UN document be implemented not selectively, but in their entirety and interrelation.
I am convinced that Cuba’s accession to BRICS as a partner state, effective January 1, 2025, will also contribute to strengthening coordination in the field of foreign policy. Following its expansion, this association of leading countries of the Global Majority has significantly consolidated its position as a center for reconciling the interests of the Global South and East, one of the pillars of the polycentric world order.
In recent years, the focus of the global economy has been shifting objectively and inexorably toward Eurasia, where new centers of power, development, and politically important decision-making are becoming increasingly active. In this regard, new horizons are opening up for Cuba as an observer state to the Eurasian Economic Union.
We cooperate closely with Cuba on the issue of combating neocolonial practices. Thanks to the efforts of our countries, among others, last year the General Assembly adopted the resolution “Eradication of colonialism in all its forms and manifestations,” which fully meets the fundamental interests of the global majority. We look forward to continuing our joint efforts to declare December 14 of this year as the International Day for the Eradication of Colonialism in all its forms and manifestations at the UN. Taking such a decision on the 65th anniversary of the Declaration that paved the way for the independence of colonized countries and peoples will have significant symbolic value.
“I cherish the memories of my many encounters with Fidel, including the last one, which took place in 2014”. Photo: RT.
Our countries reject illegal unilateral sanctions that not only contradict international law but also hit the most vulnerable sectors of the population hardest. Russia consistently advocates for the immediate and complete end of the trade embargo against Cuba imposed by the US. The adoption, at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, of the resolution “Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba” once again demonstrated the virtually unanimous solidarity of the world community with the demands of the Cuban people and the rejection of this illegal and unjust policy. We also insist on the unconditional removal of Havana from the US list of “state sponsors” of terrorism.
We are grateful for the unwavering support provided by Havana in the context of the hybrid war unleashed by the West against Russia. The Cuban leadership has rightly pointed out on several occasions that one of the root causes of the conflict in Ukraine is to be found in NATO’s long-standing expansionist policy towards Russia’s borders. No less important will be achieving full respect for human rights in the territories remaining under the control of the Kiev regime, which, after seizing power violently in 2014, set out to destroy everything related to Russia and the Russian world—its language, culture, traditions, canonical Orthodoxy, and Russian-language media.
The history of mutual assistance between our countries goes back several decades. We continue to assist our Cuban friends through specific projects. Intensive cooperation is developing in the fields of energy, industry, tourism, agriculture, technology, education, culture, and sports. The expansion of the portfolio of bilateral investment initiatives, which currently numbers more than a hundred, is being discussed. This was made possible, in particular, by the Framework Agreement on Cooperation between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Cuba to Encourage the Participation of Investors from the Russian Federation in Russian-Cuban Projects in the Republic of Cuba, signed in 2023.
An important role in our practical cooperation is played by the Russian-Cuban Intergovernmental Commission for Economic, Commercial, and Scientific-Technical Cooperation, chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Dmitry N. Chernyshenko, and the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Cuba, Ricardo Cabrisas. Its last regular meeting took place on April 4, 2025, in Havana.
Active dialogue is maintained through parliamentary channels. On March 27, 2025, the second session of the Commission for Cooperation between the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and the National Assembly of People’s Power of the Republic of Cuba was held. Multifaceted interaction at the level of the subjects (regions) of the Russian Federation is deepening, and interministerial contacts are progressing.
I note with satisfaction the expansion of educational ties. The annual program to award 100 scholarships for Cuban students to study at Russian universities is being successfully implemented. Since 2023, about eight open education centers for the study of the Russian language have begun operating in the Greater Antilles. In 2024, Russian universities opened two geological classes in Cuban educational institutions, as well as the Special Training Center for Specialists in the Field of Energy and Electronics. In addition, more than 60 agreements were signed in 2024 between Russian and Cuban higher education institutions. This April, the branch of the Southern Federal University began its work in Havana.
In recent years, Russian citizens have shown a marked increase in interest in visiting Cuba. In 2024, the annual number of Russian travelers to the island reached a record high of 186,000.
Throughout its history, interaction with Cuba has remained so multifaceted that it would be difficult to find an area in which we do not cooperate. Space is no exception. This year we celebrate the 45th anniversary of the space flight of the Soviet-Cuban crew composed of Yuri V. Romanenko and Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez.
Comandante Fidel did a great deal both to develop our bilateral relations and to consolidate the values of peace, freedom, truth, and justice in world affairs. For many generations of Russian citizens, his name has become a symbol of selfless service to the Cuban people.
In conclusion, I would like to refer to the words of the great Fidel Castro, who once said: “There is no force in the world capable of crushing the force of truth and ideas.” This resembles the statement of the Holy and Devout Prince Alexander Nevsky, the Heavenly Patron of Russian diplomats: “God is not in force, but in Truth.”
Russia and Cuba are on the right side of history. We are ready to continue working side by side with our Cuban friends to comprehensively develop these ties for the benefit of the peoples of our countries and in the interests of international peace and security. Cuba can always count on our support. I am convinced that this support will be mutual.
Sergey V. Lavrov is the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation,
Source: Cubadebate translation Resumen Latinoamericano – English