Ties That Bind

The significance of Cuba’s new government’s diplomatic drive in Asia and Russia

OThe author is a researcher on Cuban studies at the Institute of Latin American Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences

n November 2, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-canel arrived in Moscow to kick off his first official visit to Russia and Asia since assuming office in April. The Cuban leader’s trip placed a high priority on Asia, with visits to four Asian countries, namely, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), China, Viet Nam and Laos, after Russia.

Progress in diplomacy

Cuban diplomacy has made a good deal of progress, including resuming relations with the U.S. in 2015 and successfully mediating in Colombian peace talks between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. Cuba has also stressed multi-track diplomacy in light of internal and external changes, which is making a global impression. In the process of reform, Cuba faces many external problems, therefore, it should take the opportunity to adjust traditional diplomatic strategies in order to improve relations with the U.S., Europe, Russia and other regions and countries.

Cuba has a positive interacting relationship between its domestic economic model and the social political change process on the one hand and new demands for comprehensive and pluralistic diplomacy to serve the social economy and development of the country on the other. Since Raúl Castro’s administration, Cuba has been updating its diplomatic concepts on the basis of continuing the independent diplomacy established by the older generation of revolutionaries such as Fidel Castro. The development of the national economy and the improvement of people’s livelihood have promoted Cuba’s international status. Its active, flexible and pragmatic foreign policy has been able to achieve the dual goals of maintaining national independence and protecting national sovereignty. Its medical, religious and cultural diplomacy has become increasingly evident, and its foreign policy adjustment has been fruitful. Cuba has also continued to focus on multilateral organizational activities and participates in regional and United Nations affairs.

However, Cuban diplomacy in transition is still facing many internal and external problems. For instance, its unsatisfactory national economic performance and U.S. President Donald Trump’s revisionist policy toward Cuba may be seriously blocking Cuban renewal.

Cuba has long suffered from the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the U.S. After reform, Cuba improved relations with the U.S. in 2014 and the European Union in 2016. But under the Trump administration, the U.S. tightened sanctions against Cuba at the end of 2017. This has had a negative impact on Cuba’s engagement in the international community and its internal reform. It is thus necessary for Cuba to diversify its foreign relations around the world more.

Common interests

Cuba has different priorities for bilateral exchange and cooperation with each of the five nations Díaz-canel visited. As the biggest country in the Caribbean, Cuba has a crucial and traditional impact on the Caribbean region in terms of politics, the economy and culture. Latin American countries have developed in recent decades, but their growth rate and regional integration have not been as dynamic as those in East Asia. In 2017, the Cuban GDP grew 1.6 percent after experiencing nega- tive growth in 2016.

Cuba’s new government has put priority on economic development via reform. As socialist countries, China and Viet Nam have achieved sound development after implementing reform and opening- up policies. Thus, the social, political and economic progress made in these countries has relevant references for Cuba, since they have a similar political system.

Cuba is rich in tropical agro products and raw materials, which are part of its national industry structure. With more economic cooperation from these four Asian countries, it can import manufacturing and trading capacity, in particular, along with more capital resources, which may be beneficial for upgrading Cuba’s economic industries and structure.

Since establishing diplomatic ties in 1960, China and Cuba have consistently developed mutually beneficial, friendly and cooperative relations, which have grown rapidly and expanded their exchange and cooperation in various fields. Sino-cuban relations have gone far beyond the traditional trade and investment relationship to a more structural cooperation in the interests of the two countries. Since both China and Cuba are socialist countries carrying out comprehensive reform, they face similar challenges and difficulties during the process. Thus they can learn from each other’s experience and share new thinking and theoretical progress.

Bilateral relations have been characterized by frequent exchanges at various levels as China and Cuba support each other in international affairs. For example, at the 68th Session of the UN General Assembly, China voted in favor of Cuba’s resolution to end the U.S. blockade imposed on it. Intensive economic cooperation and trade exchanges have laid new ground for future development. China is Cuba’s largest trading partner, while Cuba is China’s second largest trading partner in the Caribbean.