Editing Foreign relations of Cuba (section)

==== 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>