Havana/MoscowThe traditionally good and close relations between the two countries are to be further expanded and intensified in the future. This was agreed by the Secretary of the Russian Security Council, Sergei Shoigu, and the Cuban Interior Minister, Lázaro Alberto Álvarez, during a meeting of high-ranking security politicians from the BRICS group of states on September 11 in Saint Petersburg.
The focus of the agreement is the expansion of bilateral cooperation in the areas of trade, economy and investment. According to former Defense Minister Shoigu, the aim of the planned measures is to provide targeted support to the Cuban economy against the backdrop of the acute economic crisis.
Specifically, the provision of new credit lines for strategically important sectors was agreed. The loans are intended to help mitigate the effects of the US blockade against the Caribbean island, which has been in place for more than 60 years and is in violation of international law. To implement the planned projects and plans, a bilateral intergovernmental special commission is to be set up to coordinate further cooperation between the two governments.
In addition to the economic policy measures, Russia’s representative also announced the intensification of cooperation in the security policy area. According to Shoigu, cooperation between the security councils, secret services and the executive bodies is to be expanded.
The talks that have now taken place are a continuation of the discussions that took place in Moscow in May. At that time, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel met with his counterpart Vladimir Putin and discussed with high-ranking Russian government officials measures to deal with the economic crisis in Cuba, which is primarily caused by energy shortages and food shortages.
But cooperation between Cuba and Russia is not only to be intensified in the economic and security policy areas. Russian Culture Minister Olga Liubimova announced on her Telegram channel on Saturday that she had agreed on film projects with her Cuban counterpart Alpidio Alonso during a meeting in St. Petersburg.
As part of this cooperation, Cuba will host a Russian film week from September 19 to 22. Havana and Moscow are also considering further cultural exchanges, such as tours with the Cuban National Ballet.
