Russia has sent a clear signal to Washington about its continued influence in Latin America. During a visit to Havana, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov emphasized the “special character” of relations with Cuba and declared that Moscow would never betray its strategic partner.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov highlighted the “special character” of relations with Cuba at a meeting with Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel on Thursday. He visited the Caribbean island at a time of tension between Havana and Washington, TASR writes, according to an AFP report.
- Sergei Riabkov in Cuba confirmed the special and permanent nature of Russian-Cuban relations.
- Ryabkov rejected any Russian withdrawal from the Western Hemisphere despite pressure from Washington.
- The Russian tanker Anatoly Kolodkin arrived in Cuba with 100,000 tons of oil.
- Donald Trump called the Cuban government an extraordinary threat and threatened tariffs.
Riabkov: We cannot betray Cuba
“Russia is not planning to withdraw from the Western Hemisphere, regardless of what they say in Washington,” Riabkov said after meeting with Díaz-Canel. “Our relations with Cuba have a special character… Simply, we cannot betray Cuba, that is completely out of the question, we cannot leave it to its fate,” he stated.
This meeting took place ten days after the Russian tanker Anatoly Kolodkin arrived on the island, bringing 100,000 tons of oil. It was the first supply of raw material since January 3, when US forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Caracas has been Havana’s main regional ally and supplier of oil to a country reeling from an energy and economic crisis.
Díaz-Canel: We send a hug to Vladimir Putin
“We take this opportunity to send a hug to our dear friend, (Russian) President Vladimir Putin,” Díaz-Canel said after meeting Riabkov.
“At this moment, Russia is one hundred percent in solidarity with Cuba. Despite the difficulties that the country is going through, we stand by you,” the office of the Cuban president wrote the words of the Russian deputy foreign minister on the X social network.
US President Donald Trump described the Cuban government as an “extraordinary threat” to US national security and threatened to impose tariffs on countries that would continue to supply oil to the island nation, even though Russia had allowed the tanker to be delivered for “humanitarian reasons”. According to Riabkov, Cuba’s economic issues, including its energy security, were among the main topics of the negotiations with Díaz-Canel.
