Miguel Díaz-Canel held a meeting of "great significance" this Tuesday with the Minister of the Interior of Russia, Vladimir Kolokoltsev, at the Palace of the Revolution.
The Cuban leader once again turned to his old Russian ally amid the rising tensions between Havana and Washington. He described the visit of the Russian general as a sign of Moscow's "sensitivity" and "understanding" of the situation Cuba is facing, which is mired in a deep economic, political, and social crisis.
In the meeting, the Cuban Minister of the Interior, Lázaro Alberto Álvarez Casas, and other high-ranking officials from both countries also participated.
The official visit to Cuba aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation and coordination in the fight against crime, set against a backdrop of intense diplomatic activity between the two countries.
However, it occurs three weeks after the U.S. military operation in Venezuela, which concluded with the capture of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, who were accused of narcoterrorism by U.S. justice.
That fact has reconfigured the regional political landscape and left the Cuban regime more isolated than ever, with its main South American ally out of power.
Díaz-Canel and Kolokoltsev discussed issues of cooperation in the area of security and exchanges on the “complex global situation.”
The meeting reinforces the perception that Havana is seeking military and police support from Moscow in light of the growing internal discontent on the island and international pressure, especially from the United States.
The Russian minister also met with Raúl Castro. They discussed "the excellent bilateral relations between Russia and Cuba," as well as the willingness to strengthen them. The Army General “conveyed warm greetings to President Vladímir Putin.”
During the last few years, Russia has increased its influence in Cuba through energy, logistics, and defense agreements, while the Cuban government faces protests, blackouts, and an unprecedented migration exodus.
The backing of the Kremlin has become one of the few external pillars of the regime, in a context marked by sanctions and a lack of legitimacy.
Neither Díaz-Canel nor Kolokoltsev made public statements about the details of the meeting, which, according to the official press, was "fraternal" and "productive."
International observers interpret the visit as a signal of strategic alignment between Havana and Moscow in response to the new diplomatic and economic offensive from Washington in Latin America.
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