Russia announces new credit lines to the Cuban regime.

The Russian government has stated that it is confident Cuba will overcome the serious economic crisis the country is facing, and to that end, they have announced plans to grant new lines of credit, reports the Efe agency.

"Russia will take additional measures to support Havana, in particular, by granting new lines of credit," asserted the Secretary of the Russian Security Council, Sergei Shoigu, during a meeting in Saint Petersburg with the Cuban Minister of Interior, Lázaro Alberto Álvarez.

Likewise, the former Russian Defense Minister emphasized the willingness to "increase cooperation within the framework of security councils, special services, and police departments," including a special note on "attention to commercial, economic, and investment cooperation."

Although details of this new measure, aimed at restructuring the island's debt and granting more favorable payment conditions, are not yet known, what has been stated by the Russian side is that they seek to provide help in light of the commercial and economic restrictions facing the country.

In March of this year, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave the green light to amend the credit agreements between Russia and Cuba.

The Russian government's legal information portal published that the protocols are supported by the Russian president and relate to the state credit agreements granted to Cuba between 2009 and 2019 for the acquisition of hydrocarbons.

The facilities granted to Havana include the option to settle the debt in rubles, the postponement of the payment plan initially scheduled for 2023-2027 to the period 2028-2040, and adjustments in the calculation of rates for late payments.

On several occasions, the Russian side has emphasized Cuba's strategic role in Latin America. This was stated by Foreign Minister Serguéi Lavrov during his visit to Havana last February, and it was reiterated by Shoigú, noting that the relations between the two countries have surpassed "the test of time."

On an unexpected trip last May, the Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel arrived in Russia on a visit that, according to the Cuban Foreign Ministry, would serve "to address priorities on the bilateral agenda."

After reflecting on his visit, the president noted that in meetings with Russian authorities, "we discussed how we could move forward more quickly and what new things could be done to help alleviate the energy situation and the situation with food in the emergency we are facing in our country."

However, Cubans continue to see no results from the president's travels and the supposed agreements being made, while life on the island becomes increasingly complex.