Editing Foreign relations of Cuba (section)

=====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>