Related videos:
The Cuban government continues to strengthen alliances with like-minded countries amid its deep internal crisis. This time, the rapprochement with Belarus involves not only economic agreements but also the reactivation of military cooperation.
In Minsk, the capital of Belarus, the twelfth meeting of the Joint Commission on Technical-Military Cooperation between the two countries began, a gathering led by high-ranking officials from the military apparatus of Cuba and Belarus. Representing Cuba was Brigadier General Óscar Enrique Biosca Gallego, while the host side was represented by Oleg Mishchenko, a senior official in the military industry, reported the Belarusian state agency BelTA.
During the sessions, both parties assessed the current status of their military ties, reviewed previous agreements, and outlined new lines of collaboration. Although the meeting concludes on April 6, a clear outcome is already anticipated: Havana and Minsk have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening this type of cooperation in the coming months.
This approach occurs in parallel to the Cuban regime's attempts to secure economic support in strategic sectors. Days earlier, the Cuban ambassador in Belarus, Santiago Pérez Benítez, had outlined three key priorities for the island: the acquisition of agricultural machinery, the supply of dairy products, and cooperation in the healthcare system, as noted in a report from BelTA.
These areas reflect urgent needs within Cuba, where food scarcity, the deterioration of agricultural infrastructure, and shortcomings in the healthcare system continue to impact the population.
Belarusian companies, for their part, have expressed interest in participating in projects on the island, including the modernization of the energy sector and the equipping of retail chains, which could lead to new investments or business agreements.
However, behind these official announcements lies the uncertainty of how much of this commitment will actually alleviate the daily lives of Cubans, who are affected by blackouts, inflation, and a shortage of basic goods.
This twelfth meeting is not an isolated event, but the last link in a chain of military rapprochements that has intensified since 2023.
In January 2024, the Defense Ministers of both countries signed a formal agreement on military cooperation. In May 2025, the Belarusian company ALEVKURP modernized the S-125 Pechora anti-aircraft systems of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces, even adapting them to strike land and maritime targets. In October 2025, the Chief of the General Staff of Cuba traveled to Minsk to agree on the expansion of collaboration in electronic warfare, air defense, and training at Belarusian military academies.
Filed under: