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Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez urged his Spanish counterpart José Manuel Albares to "boost" the bilateral relationship and strengthen political dialogue "at all levels", but did not announce any goals or verifiable commitments beyond the slogan.
According to reported by Rodríguez on his social media, both foreign ministers examined the state of bilateral relations and their prospects, with the explicit message that Cuba wants to relaunch them through broader and sustained political exchange with the Government of Spain.
The meeting took place within the context of a particularly busy multilateral agenda at the UN, featuring the participation of 89 heads of state, five vice presidents, and 43 heads of government, with a forecast of 1,642 bilateral meetings focused on global challenges such as armed conflicts, poverty, and the climate crisis.
The EFE agency noted that the last interaction between both ministers took place in November 2021, during the XXVIII summit of foreign ministers of Latin America and Spain held in the Dominican Republic, a milestone that serves as a reference for the recent evolution of the bilateral relationship.
Four years later, there is no evidence of translated progress in projects or substantial agreements.
Amid a serious economic crisis, the regime proposes to deepen economic and commercial cooperation and to relaunch the bilateral channel in a multilateral setting with high diplomatic density.
In July, the Spanish government, led by Pedro Sánchez and currently embroiled in a serious corruption crisis, activated a debt forgiveness program with Cuba for an amount of up to 375 million euros.
The initiative is part of an agreement signed between both countries in 2016, but it is now being realized within the framework of a new multilateral effort promoted by the Paris Club.
According to the Government, the objective is to finance sustainable development projects in strategic sectors such as energy, water, and food security, and to enable the participation of Spanish companies and Cuban entities under standards of transparency and accountability.
Through this arrangement, the regime in Havana will avoid returning cash and instead will implement projects supervised by both governments. Spanish authorities emphasize the usefulness of this model to "strengthen" international cooperation and promote projects with a significant social impact.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Relations between Cuba and Spain
What is the objective of the Cuban regime in strengthening its ties with Spain?
The Cuban regime seeks to relaunch its bilateral relations with Spain through a broader and more sustained political exchange. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez expressed his desire to strengthen political dialogue at all levels; however, no specific goals or verifiable commitments were announced. This approach comes amid an economic crisis in Cuba, where economic and commercial cooperation with Spain is seen as a potential avenue to ease the situation.
What does the debt forgiveness program between Spain and Cuba entail?
The debt forgiveness program allows Cuba to avoid cash payments on its debt to Spain, transforming those funds into sustainable development projects on the island. These projects are overseen by both governments and focus on strategic sectors such as energy, water, and food security. This initiative is part of an agreement signed in 2016 and aims to promote international cooperation and social impact, enabling the participation of Spanish companies and Cuban entities.
How does the corruption crisis in Spain affect its relations with Cuba?
The corruption crisis in Spain, which affects Pedro Sánchez's government, could influence the perception of its diplomatic and economic actions, such as the debt forgiveness to Cuba. Some sectors criticize that this approach towards the Cuban regime could be a maneuver to divert attention from the internal corruption problems facing the Spanish government. However, the Executive defends that these measures aim to strengthen international cooperation and finance high-impact social projects.
Why will Spain open a new consulate in Cuba?
Spain plans to open a new consulate in Cuba to enhance support for its citizens and the descendants of Spaniards on the island. This initiative is part of Spain's Foreign Action Strategy 2025-2028 and responds to the increasing demand for consular services, especially following the implementation of the Democratic Memory Law. The new consulate aims to streamline essential processes such as obtaining visas and citizenship, thereby improving service conditions in Cuba.
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