Cuban Deputy Premier Says Relations with Moscow are Strategic

Cuban Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment Ricardo Cabrisas described as strategic the island’s economic and commercial relations with Russia.

Speaking at the plenary session of the 21st Session of the Cuba Russia Intergovernmental Commission for Economic-Commercial and Scientific-Technical Cooperation, held in Moscow, Cabrisas said that bilateral relations have witnessed increasing strengthening over the past few years, according to the Cuban Foreign Ministry.

He recalled that a change in joint working styles occurred in 2023 which resulted in an effective participation of the Russian business community in Cuba’s National Economic and Social Development Plan up to 2030, on a mutually beneficial basis.

Cabrisas appreciated the support of Russia supplying Cuba with hydrocarbons, flour and fertilizers amidst a complex economic and financial scenario in Cuba.

The Cuban government official said that the island is currently facing an economic war situation as a consequence of the undeclared economic war launched against it by the US administration.

Cabrisas ratified that the Cuban people and government keep a firm stance against the unilateral western sanctions against Russia and condemn their attempts to isolate Moscow at international organizations.

He also affirmed Cuba’s willingness to honor external compromises bearing in mind that in order to meet that goal the country must first revert the current economic situation. In this regard, he mentioned the growth of Russian investment in key sectors like agriculture, transportation, energy, communications, health, and others.

Cabrisas mentioned the advancement of the local tourist sector as Russia has become the third major source of tourists to the island.

The Cuban Deputy Premier insisted that the strength of Russia-Cuba relations lies on the compromise of both governments and peoples to build the road towards mutual prosperity.

At the end of the meeting, Cabrisas and his Russian counterpart Dmitri Chernyshenko signed the final document which draws up the working guidelines to keep advancing actions up to the next meeting slated to take place in the first quarter of 2025, in Havana.