Editing Foreign relations of Cuba (section)

== History ==
=== 1917 ===
In 1917, Cuba entered World War I on the side of the allies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.emayzine.com/lectures/HISTOR~7.htm |title=History of Cuba |publisher=Emayzine.com |access-date=2012-03-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415064039/http://www.emayzine.com/lectures/Histor~7.htm |archive-date=2012-04-15 }}</ref>

=== The Cold War ===
{{See also|Cuba–Soviet Union relations}}

Following the establishment of diplomatic ties to the Soviet Union, and after the [[Cuban Missile Crisis]], Cuba became increasingly dependent on Soviet markets and military and economic aid. Castro was able to build a formidable military force with the help of Soviet equipment and military advisors. The KGB kept in close touch with Havana, and Castro tightened Communist Party control over all levels of government, the media, and the educational system, while developing a Soviet-style internal police force.

Castro's alliance with the Soviet Union caused something of a split between him and Guevara. In 1966, Guevara left for [[Bolivia]] in an ill-fated attempt to stir up revolution against the country's government.

On August 23, 1968, Castro made a public gesture to the USSR that caused the Soviet leadership to reaffirm their support for him. Two days after [[Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia]] to repress the [[Prague Spring]], Castro took to the airwaves and publicly denounced the Czech rebellion. Castro warned the Cuban people about the Czechoslovakian 'counterrevolutionaries', who "were moving Czechoslovakia towards capitalism and into the arms of [[imperialism|imperialists]]". He called the leaders of the rebellion "the agents of [[West Germany]] and [[fascist]] reactionary rabble."<ref>{{cite web|last=Castro |first=Fidel |date=August 1968 |url=http://lanic.utexas.edu/la/cb/cuba/castro/1968/19680824 |title=Castro comments on Czechoslovakia crisis |publisher=FBIS |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515022952/http://lanic.utexas.edu/la/cb/cuba/castro/1968/19680824 |archive-date=2011-05-15 }}</ref> 

==== Relations in Latin America during the Cold War ====
{{blockquote|"Cuba has a unique symbolic allure. It is the small country that confronted the U.S. empire and has survived despite the attempts by all U.S. presidents since to subdue its communist government. It is the island with iconic leaders like [[Fidel Castro]] and [[Che Guevara]], and the Latin American country that in the language of revolutionaries everywhere embodies the struggle of socialist humanism against the materialism of capitalist societies. Cuba is also the small nation that in the past sent its troops to die in faraway lands in Latin America and even Africa fighting for the poor."| [[Moisés Naím]], ''[[Newsweek]]''<ref>[http://www.newsweek.com/id/201752 The Havana Obsession: Why All Eyes are on a Bankrupt Island] by Moisés Naím, ''Newsweek'', June 22, 2009</ref>}}

During the Cold War, Cuba's influence in the Americas was inhibited by the [[Monroe Doctrine]] and the dominance of the United States.<ref name="foreignaffairs">Pamela S. Falk, "Cuba in Africa." ''Foreign Affairs'' 65.5 (1987): 1077-1096. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/20043202 online]</ref>   Despite this Fidel Castro became an influential figurehead for leftist groups in the region, extending support to Marxist Revolutionary movements throughout Latin America, most notably [[Cuban assistance to the Sandinista National Liberation Front|aiding]] the [[Sandinista]]s in overthrowing [[Somoza]] in [[Nicaragua]] in 1979. In 1971, Fidel Castro took [[Fidel Castro's state visit to Chile|a month-long visit to Chile]]. The visit, in which Castro participated actively in the internal politics of the country, holding massive rallies and giving public advice to [[Salvador Allende]], was seen by those on the political right as proof to support their view that "The Chilean Way to Socialism" was an effort to put Chile on the same path as Cuba.<ref>{{cite book|last=Quirk|first=Robert|date= August 1995|title=Fidel Castro|publisher=W. W. Norton & Company}}</ref>

==== Intervention in Cold War conflicts ====
{{Further|Cuban military internationalism}}
During the Cold War, Africa was a major target of Cuba's influence. Fidel Castro stated that Africa was chosen in part to represent Cuban solidarity with its own large population of African descent. Exporting Cuba's  revolutionary tactics abroad increased its worldwide influence and reputation. Wolf Grabendorff states that "Most African states view Cuban intervention in Africa as help in achieving independence through self-help rather than as a step toward the type of dependence which would result from a similar commitment by the super-powers."<ref>Wolf Grabendorff,  "Cuba's involvement in Africa: An interpretation of objectives, reactions, and limitations." ''Journal of Interamerican Studies and World Affairs'' 22.1 (1980): 3-29, quoting p. 5. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/165610 online]</ref> Cuban Soldiers were sent to fight in the [[Simba rebellion]] in the DRC during the 1960s. Furthermore, by providing military aid Cuba won trading partners for the Soviet bloc and potential converts to Marxism.<ref name="foreignaffairs"/>

Starting in the 1970s, Cuba's intervened in 17 African nations including three insurgencies.<ref name="foreignaffairs"/> Cuba expanded military programs to Africa and the Middle East, sending military missions to Sierra Leone in 1972, South Yemen in 1973, Equatorial Guinea in 1973, and Somalia in 1974. It sent combat troops to Syria in 1973 to fight against Israel. Cuba was following the general Soviet policy of détente with the West, and secret discussions were opened with the United States about peaceful coexistence. They ended abruptly when Cuba sent combat troops to fight in Angola in 1975.<ref>Louis A. Pérez, '' Cuba: Between Reform and Revolution'' (5th ed. 2015) pp 300-301.</ref>

=====Intervention in Africa=====
{{Main|Cuban intervention in Angola}}

On November 4, 1975, Castro ordered the deployment of Cuban troops to [[Angola]] to aid the Marxist [[Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola|MPLA]] against [[UNITA]], which were supported by the [[People's Republic of China]], United States, [[Israel]], and South Africa (see: [[Cuba in Angola]]). After two months on their own, Moscow aided the Cuban mission with the USSR engaging in a massive airlift of Cuban forces into Angola. Both Cuban and South African forces withdrew in the late 1980s and Namibia was granted  independence. The [[Angolan civil war]] would last until 2002. [[Nelson Mandela]] is said to have remarked "Cuban internationalists have done so much for African independence, freedom, and justice."<ref>[[Wikiquote:Nelson Mandela]]</ref> Cuban troops were also sent to Marxist [[Ethiopia]] to assist [[Mengistu Haile Mariam]]'s government in the [[Ogaden War]] with [[Somalia]] in 1977. Cuba sent troops along with the Soviet Union to aid the [[Mozambican Liberation Front|FRELIMO]] government against the [[Rhodesia]]n and South African-backed [[Mozambican National Resistance|RENAMO]].<ref name="Grady2005">{{cite web|last=O'Grady |first=Mary Anastasia |date=2005-10-30 |url=http://www.cubacenter.org/media/news_articles/countingcastrosvictims.php |title=Counting Castro's Victims |publisher=The Wall Street Journal, Center for a Free Cuba |access-date=2006-05-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060418094333/http://www.cubacenter.org/media/news_articles/countingcastrosvictims.php |archive-date=2006-04-18 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Castro never disclosed the number of casualties in Soviet African wars, but one estimate is that 14,000 Cubans were killed in Cuban military actions abroad.<ref>''Return to Havana'' by Maurice Halperin</ref><ref>{{cite web | date = 2006-08-25 | url = http://www.mediatransparency.org/recipientgrants.php?recipientID=1892 | title = Recipient Grants: Center for a Free Cuba | access-date = 2006-08-25 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070828125037/http://www.mediatransparency.org/recipientgrants.php?recipientID=1892 | archive-date = 2007-08-28 }}</ref>

=====Intervention in Latin America=====

In addition, Castro extended support to Marxist Revolutionary movements throughout Latin America, such as aiding the [[Sandinista]]s in overthrowing the [[Anastasio Somoza Debayle|Somoza]] government in [[Nicaragua]] in 1979.<ref name="Grady2005" />

=====Leadership of non-aligned movement=====
{{Further|Cuban medical internationalism}}
In the 1970s, Fidel Castro made a major effort to assume a leadership role in the non-aligned movement, which include over 90 countries. Cuba's intervention in Angola other military advisory missions, economic and social programs were praised fellow non-aligned member. The 1976 world conference of the non-aligned Movement applauded Cuban internationalism, stating that it "assisted the people of Angola in frustrating the expansionist and colonialist strategy of South Africa's racist regime and its allies." The next non-aligned conference was held in Havana in 1979, and chaired by Castro, who became the de facto spokesman for the Movement. [[6th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement|The conference in September 1979]] marked the peak of Cuban global influence. The non-aligned nations had believed that Cuba was not aligned with the Soviet Union in the Cold War.<ref>Quirk, ''Fidel Castro,'' pp 718-21, 782-83</ref>  However, in December 1979, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, an active member of the non-aligned Movement. At the United Nations, non-aligned members voted 56 to 9, with 26 abstaining, to condemn the Soviet invasion. Cuba,   however, was deeply in debt financially and politically to Moscow, and voted against the resolution. It lost its reputation as non-aligned in the Cold War. Castro, instead of becoming a spokesman for the Movement, became inactive, and in 1983, leadership passed to India, which had abstained on the UN vote. Cuba lost its bid to become a member of the United Nations Security Council. Cuba's ambitions for a role in global leadership had ended.<ref>Pérez, '' Cuba: Between Reform and Revolution'' (5th ed. 2015) p 301.</ref><ref>H. V. Hodson, ed. ''The annual register : a record of world events 1979'' (1980) pp 372-75.</ref>

=====Social and economic programs=====

Cuba had social and economic programs in 40 developing countries. This was possible by a growing Cuban economy in the 1970s. The largest programs were construction projects, in which 8,000 Cubans provided technical advice, planning, and training of engineers. Educational programs involved 3,500 teachers. In addition thousands of specialists, technicians, and engineers were sent as advisors to agricultural mining and transportation sectors around the globe. Cuba also hosted 10,000 foreign students, mostly from Africa and Latin America, in health programs and technical schools.<ref>Pérez, '' Cuba: Between Reform and Revolution'' (5th ed. 2015) pp 300-301.</ref>  Cuba's extensive program of medical support to international attention. A 2007 study reported:
:Since the early 1960s, 28,422 Cuban health workers have worked in 37 Latin American countries, 31,181 in 33 African countries, and 7,986 in 24 Asian countries. Throughout a period of four decades, Cuba sent 67,000 health workers to structural cooperation programs, usually for at least two years, in 94 countries ... an average of 3,350 health workers working abroad every year between 1960 and 2000.<ref>Pol De Vos,  et al. "Cuba's international cooperation in health: an overview." ''International Journal of Health Services'' 37.4 (2007): 761-776.  [https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Pol_De_Vos/publication/5776693_Cuba%27s_International_Cooperation_in_Health_An_Overview/links/5448aaa20cf2d62c3052ad8e.pdf online]</ref>

==== Post–Cold War relations ====
[[Image:Vladimir Putin in Cuba 14-17 December 2000-12.jpg|thumb|right|Fidel Castro with Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]], December 2000]]

In the post–Cold War environment Cuban support for guerrilla warfare in Latin America has largely subsided, though the Cuban government continued to provide political assistance and support for left leaning groups and parties in the developing Western Hemisphere.

When Soviet leader [[Mikhail Gorbachev]] visited Cuba in 1989, the ideological relationship between Havana and Moscow was strained by Gorbachev's implementation of economic and political reforms in the USSR. "We are witnessing sad things in other socialist countries, very sad things", lamented Castro in November 1989, in reference to the changes that were sweeping such communist allies as the Soviet Union, [[East Germany]], Hungary, and Poland.<ref>{{cite news | date = 1989-11-09 | url = http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?r101:S17NO9-1592: | title = Castro Laments 'Very Sad Things' in Bloc | newspaper = Washington Post | access-date = 2006-05-22 | archive-date = 2013-08-21 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130821085547/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?r101:S17NO9-1592: | url-status = dead }}</ref> The subsequent [[dissolution of the Soviet Union]] in 1991 had an immediate and devastating effect on Cuba.

Cuba today works with a growing bloc of Latin American politicians opposed to the "[[Washington consensus]]", the American-led doctrine that [[free trade]], open markets, and [[privatization]] will lift poor third world countries out of economic stagnation. The Cuban government condemned [[neoliberalism]] as a destructive force in the developing world, creating an alliance with Presidents [[Hugo Chávez]] of [[Venezuela]] and [[Evo Morales]] of [[Bolivia]] in opposing such policies.<ref>Reel, Monte. For Bolivian Majority, a New Promise; Nation's First Indian President Vows to Chart Course Independent of U.S. ''The Washington Post.'' Washington, D.C.: 23 January 2006. pg. A.01</ref><ref>Bolivia to Widen Control of Industry. ''The Washington Post''. Washington, D.C.: May 3, 2006. pg. A.16</ref><ref>[[Pamela Constable|Constable, Pamela]]. For Bolivian Victor, A Powerful Mandate; Populist Faces Practical Constraints. ''The Washington Post''. Washington, D.C.: 20 December 2005. pg. A.01</ref><ref>McDonnell, Patrick J. Global Capital; Leftist Presidents Take Spotlight at Trade Summit; A South American common market welcomes Venezuela, underscoring the bloc's new politics. Cuba's Castro steals the show. ''Los Angeles Times''. Los Angeles, California: 22 July 2006. pg. C.4</ref>

Currently, Cuba has [[Cuba–Venezuela relations|diplomatically friendly relationships]] with Presidents [[Nicolás Maduro]] of Venezuela with Maduro as perhaps the country's staunchest ally in the post-Soviet era. Cuba has sent thousands of teachers and medical personnel to Venezuela to assist Maduro's [[socialism|socialist]] oriented economic programs. Maduro, in turn provides Cuba with lower priced petroleum. Cuba's debt for oil to Venezuela is believed to be on the order of one billion US dollars.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Patricia Maroday |title=Doing Business with Cuba – The Complete Guide |url=http://www.mercatrade.com/blog/country-profile-cuba/ |access-date=14 February 2015 |date=12 January 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214100341/http://www.mercatrade.com/blog/country-profile-cuba/ |archive-date=14 February 2015 }}</ref>

Historically during Nicaragua's initial Sandinista period and since the 2007 election of [[Daniel Ortega]], Cuba has maintained close [[Cuba–Nicaragua relations|relations with Nicaragua]].

In the wake of the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]] and the ongoing international isolation of Russia, Cuba emerged as one of the few countries that maintained friendly relations with the [[Kremlin]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2022/03/29/despite-cubas-important-history-solidarity-with-ukraine-russia-remains-key-ally/|title=Despite Cuba's important history of solidarity with Ukraine, Russia remains a key ally|author=William Kelly|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=29 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://dialogo-americas.com/articles/cuba-and-russia-strengthen-strategic-partnership/#.ZEsYuC-l0_U|title=Cuba and Russia Strengthen Strategic Partnership|website=dialogo-americas.com|date=6 January 2023}}</ref> Cuban president [[Miguel Diaz-Canel]] visited [[Vladimir Putin]] in Moscow in November 2022, where the two leaders opened a monument of Fidel Castro, as well as speaking out against U.S. sanctions against Russian and Cuba.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/evoking-castro-putin-cuban-leader-pledge-deepen-ties-2022-11-22/|title=Evoking Castro, Putin and Cuban leader pledge to deepen ties|website=Reuters|date=22 November 2022}}</ref>