Lavrov called Cuba a reliable foreign policy ally of Russia

Cuba is a reliable foreign policy ally, as well as one of Russia's priority partners in Latin America. This was announced on May 7 by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in an article for the Cuban media "Russia and Cuba: Brotherhood through the years and across the distances" on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the restoration of Russian-Cuban diplomatic relations.

"Today, Cuba is a reliable foreign policy ally and a priority partner of Russia in Latin America," he stressed.

Lavrov clarified that Cuba also remains in solidarity with Russia on many global issues, in particular, Moscow and Havana advocate the preservation of a "just multipolar world order" that will take into account the interests of each state.

In addition, the Foreign Minister noted that the Russian Federation and Cuba are working together to combat neocolonial practices. He said that he expects to continue cooperation with colleagues from Havana.

Lavrov also noted that both sides reject illegal unilateral sanctions that target the most vulnerable segments of the population and contradict the norms of international law.

"Russia has consistently advocated the immediate and complete termination of the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba. <...> We also insist on the unconditional exclusion of Havana from the American list of "state sponsors of terrorism," he said.

In addition, the Foreign Minister added that Cuba's accession to the BRICS on January 1 of this year would contribute to strengthening the foreign policy ties between the parties. He noted that after its expansion, the association improved its position as a "center for coordinating the interests of the Global South and the East."

On April 5, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko opened a branch of the Southern Federal University in Havana and discussed bilateral cooperation in various areas with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel. The Deputy Prime Minister said that Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Cuban counterpart had repeatedly stressed the strategic importance of the two countries' partnership.