Africa News 24 Pretoria Bureau
PRETORIA — On the eve of the 65th anniversary of the reinstatement of diplomatic relations, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov penned a heartfelt tribute to the enduring alliance between Russia and Cuba, published in Cuba’s Granma newspaper. Titled “Russia and Cuba: Celebrating Brotherhood Through the Years and Across Distances,” the article underscores decades of solidarity, cultural kinship, and shared geopolitical vision that continue to bind the two nations despite vast geographical divides.
A legacy forged in revolution
Lavrov traced the roots of the partnership to the triumph of the Cuban Revolution and the leadership of Fidel Castro, whom he praised as a visionary who “selflessly dedicated himself to the Cuban people and global justice.” Recalling his final meeting with Castro in 2014, Lavrov highlighted the revolutionary leader’s “sharp mind” and unwavering commitment to principled internationalism. The article also honoured Cuba’s contributions to the Soviet Union’s fight against Nazism during World War II, including aid from Cuban workers’ organisations and the sacrifices of Cubans like Jorge Vivo and Enrique Vilar, who perished on Eastern Front battlefields.
Cultural ties: From Tolstoy to Ballet
The Foreign Minister celebrated the deep cultural interchange between the nations, noting Leo Tolstoy’s correspondence with Cuban admirers, painter Vasily Vereshchagin’s Cuban-inspired works, and the mutual admiration for chess legend José Raúl Capablanca. Russian artistic giants, including poet Vladimir Mayakovsky and ballerinas Anna Pavlova and Maya Plisetskaya, left marks on Cuban soil, while Cuban prima ballerina Alicia Alonso dazzled Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre. Lavrov also evoked the iconic Soviet-era song “Cuba is My Love” and verses by Yevgeny Yevtushenko, whose poetry prefaces the article, as enduring symbols of affection.
Strategic alignment in a multipolar world
Politically, Lavrov highlighted Cuba’s role as a “reliable ally” in Latin America, with both nations advocating for a “fairer multipolar world order” through forums like the UN Group of Friends in Defence of the Charter. He welcomed Cuba’s accession to BRICS as a partner country in January 2025, a move he said would amplify their voice against neo-colonialism and unilateral sanctions. The nations are also collaborating to establish December 14 as the International Day Against Colonialism, aligning with the 65th anniversary of the UN’s decolonisation declaration.
Economic and educational synergy
Amid U.S. sanctions, Lavrov reiterated Russia’s demand to end the embargo on Cuba and its removal from the U.S. terrorism sponsor list. He detailed robust bilateral energy, agriculture, and tourism projects, noting a surge in Russian visitors to Cuba (186,000 in 2024). Educational ties have flourished, with 100 annual scholarships for Cuban students in Russia, eight Russian language centres, and new university partnerships, including a Southern Federal University branch in Havana.
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Unity against “hybrid war”
Lavrov thanked Cuba for its “unfailing support” against Western pressure over Ukraine, echoing Havana’s criticism of NATO expansion. He condemned the post-2014 Kyiv government’s suppression of Russian culture and language, framing the conflict as a defence of “truth and ideas” against Western hegemony.
Looking ahead
Quoting Fidel Castro’s adage, “There is no force in the world capable of crushing the force of truth and ideas,” and St. Alexander Nevsky’s wisdom, Lavrov vowed to deepen ties “for global peace and security.” As Cuba engages with the Eurasian Economic Union and BRICS, both nations reaffirm their alignment with the “World Majority,” positioning their historic brotherhood as a bulwark in an evolving world order.
