Argentina | Cuba |
---|
Current and historical relations between Argentina and Cuba, have existed for over a century. Both nations are members of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, Latin American Integration Association, Organization of American States and the Organization of Ibero-American States.
Argentina and Cuba share a common history in the fact that both nations were once part of the Spanish Empire. In 1816, Argentina obtained its independence and in 1902, Cuba obtained its independence after the Spanish–American War. On 12 May 1909, Argentina and Cuba officially established diplomatic relations. [1] Initially, relations were limited between both nations due to their geographic distances.
In January 1959, Cuban revolutionary leader, Fidel Castro entered Havana and took control of the country. After the revolution, Argentina maintained relations with the new Cuban government and in May 1959, Castro paid a visit to Argentina and met with Argentine President Arturo Frondizi. [2] In August 1961, Argentine born Cuban revolutionary commander, Ernesto "Che" Guevara secretly returned to Argentina for a few hours and met with President Arturo Frondizi and an aunt of his before leaving the country. [3]
In December 1961, Cuba declared itself Marxist and socialist, and aligned with the Soviet Union. As a result, and by U.S. pressure, on 21 January 1962, Cuba was expelled from the Organization of American States (OAS) and by September 1962, the United States imposed a full embargo on Cuba. [4] That same year, by U.S. insistence, Argentina and all Latin American nations (with the exception of Mexico) broke diplomatic relations with Cuba in an effort to isolate the Castro government. [5]
On 28 May 1973, under President Héctor Cámpora, Argentina became the third nation (after Chile and Peru) to re-establish diplomatic relations with Cuba. [6] Former Cuban President Osvaldo Dorticós Torrado became ambassador to Argentina. [6] Relations between both nations greatly improved under the presidency of Juan Perón. Argentina granted Cuba a credit for US$200 million per year for six years. [5] During the Argentine military dictatorship (1976–1983), Cuba maintained relations with Argentina. During the Falklands War between Argentina and the United Kingdom in April–June 1982; Cuba supported Argentina's rights over the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) and funneled weapons to Argentina from Libya via Brazil. [7]
In October 1986, Argentine President Raúl Alfonsín paid an official visit to Cuba, becoming the first Argentine President to do so. In 1995, Castro returned to Argentina to attend the 5th Ibero-American Summit in Bariloche where he met with Argentine President Carlos Menem. [2] Relations between both nations became tense when in 1997, during the 7th Ibero-American Summit in Isla Margarita, Venezuela, President Menem called for democracy in Cuba and for the end of human rights violations on the island. [8] In November 1999, President Menem declined to attend the 9th Ibero-American Summit being held in Havana. [9]
Relations between Argentina and Cuba improved during the presidency of Néstor Kirchner. In 2003, Fidel Castro returned to Argentina to attend the inauguration of President Kirchner. [9] Castro returned one last time to Argentina in 2006 to attend a Mercosur summit in Córdoba. [9] In July 2006, Fidel's younger brother, Raúl Castro, took over as acting President of Cuba and in 2008, Raúl became official President of Cuba. In 2009, Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner paid a visit to Cuba and visited with both Fidel and Raúl Castro. President Fernández de Kirchner would re-visit Cuba in 2013. [9]
In December 2015 Mauricio Macri became President of Argentina. In October 2016, Presidents Raúl Castro and Mauricio Macri met in Cartagena, Colombia; both leaders attending as witnesses to the signing of the peace treaty between the Colombian Government and the FARC. [10] During their reunion, both Presidents announced that the two governments hope to reach an agreement on Cuba's outstanding debt to Argentina of US$11 billion from its original debt of US$1.3 billion which Cuba borrowed in 1973 (plus unpaid interest). [11]
High-level visits from Argentina to Cuba [9]
High-level visits from Cuba to Argentina [2]
In 2013, 84,000 Argentine tourists visited Cuba, making Argentina the largest tourist provider to Cuba from Latin America and the 5th largest globally. [12] There are direct flights between Argentina and Cuba with Cubana de Aviación.
In 2017, trade between Argentina and Cuba totaled US$200 million. [13] Argentina's exports to Cuba are mainly food based while Cuban exports to Argentina are mainly pharmaceutical products and medicine. [14]
Cuba's foreign policy has been fluid throughout history depending on world events and other variables, including relations with the United States. Without massive Soviet subsidies and its primary trading partner, Cuba became increasingly isolated in the late 1980s and early 1990s after the fall of the USSR and the end of the Cold War, but Cuba opened up more with the rest of the world again starting in the late 1990s when they have since entered bilateral co-operation with several South American countries, most notably Venezuela and Bolivia beginning in the late 1990s, especially after the Venezuela election of Hugo Chávez in 1999, who became a staunch ally of Castro's Cuba. The United States used to stick to a policy of isolating Cuba until December 2014, when Barack Obama announced a new policy of diplomatic and economic engagement. The European Union accuses Cuba of "continuing flagrant violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms". Cuba has developed a growing relationship with the People's Republic of China and Russia. Cuba provided civilian assistance workers – principally medical – to more than 20 countries. More than one million exiles have escaped to foreign countries. Cuba's present foreign minister is Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla.
This article deals with the diplomatic affairs, foreign policy and international relations of the Argentine Republic. At the political level, these matters are handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also known as the Cancillería, which answers to the President. The current Minister of Foreign Affairs, since December 2023, is Chancellor Diana Mondino.
The Argentina–Brazil relationship is both close and historical, and encompasses the economy, trade, culture, education, and tourism. From war and rivalry to friendship and alliance, this complex relationship has spanned more than two centuries. The countries also share a system of government, a federal republic with a presidential system.
Bilateral relations between the Argentine Republic and Canada have existed for over a century. Both nations are members of the Cairns Group, G20, Organization of American States and the United Nations.
The current and historical relations between the Argentine Republic and the Republic of South Africa, for over a century. Both nations are members of the Cairns Group, G20, Group of 77 and the United Nations.
Diplomatic relations between the Argentine Republic and Ukraine have existed for decades. The importance of relations centers on the history of Ukrainian migration to Argentina. Ukrainians in Argentina form the second largest Ukrainian community in Latin America numbering approximately 250,000 Ukrainians and their descendants.
The Armenian community in Argentina is the largest in Latin America totaling approximately 120,000 members.
Cuba–Namibia relations are the bilateral relations between Cuba and Namibia. Both nations are members of the Group of 77, Non-Aligned Movement and the United Nations.
Current and historical relations between the Argentine Republic and the Russian Federation have existed for decades. Both nations are members of the G20 and the United Nations.
The nations of Argentina and Mexico established diplomatic relations in 1888. Both nations are members of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, G-20 major economies, Latin American Integration Association, Organization of American States, Organization of Ibero-American States and the United Nations.
The current and historical relations between the Argentine Republic and the Portuguese Republic, have existed for over a century. Both nations are members of the Organization of Ibero-American States and the United Nations.
Diplomatic relations between the Argentine Republic and the Republic of El Salvador have existed for over a century. Both nations are members of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, Group of 77, Organization of American States, Organization of Ibero-American States and the United Nations.
Foreign relations between Argentina and the Holy See, have existed for over a century. The current pope, Pope Francis, was the former Archbishop of Buenos Aires.
Diplomatic relations between the Argentine Republic and the Republic of the Philippines, have existed for decades. Both nations are members of the Association of Academies of the Spanish Language, Group of 77, the G20 developing nations, and Forum of East Asia-Latin America Cooperation and the United Nations.
Cuba–Uruguay relations refers to the diplomatic relations between the Republic of Cuba and the Oriental Republic of Uruguay. Both nations are members of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, Group of 77, Organization of Ibero-American States and the United Nations.
Cuba–Spain relations are the bilateral relations between the Republic of Cuba and the Kingdom of Spain. Relations date back more than five centuries. Cuba had been a colony from 1492 until 1898 when the United States took over the territory in the Spanish–American War. Many Cubans have ancestry dating back from Spain. Many Spaniards escaped the first Spanish Civil War and went to Cuba, and other countries, around 1820–1825.
Cuba–Israel refers to the current and historical relations between the Republic of Cuba and the State of Israel. Both nations have not had official diplomatic relations since 1973. Israel maintains an Interest Section in the Canadian embassy in Havana. Cuba is currently the only country in the Americas that does not recognize Israel as a sovereign state; a few other countries in the Western Hemisphere such as Belize, Bolivia, Colombia and Venezuela have suspended ties with Israel, but nevertheless continue to accord it diplomatic recognition.
Cuba–Kenya relations refers to the diplomatic relations between the Republic of Cuba and the Republic of Kenya. Cuba has an embassy in Nairobi, while Kenya has an embassy in Havana. Both nations are members of the Group of 77, Non-Aligned Movement and the United Nations.
Cuba–France relations are the diplomatic relations between Cuba and France. Both nations are members of the United Nations.
Cuba-Guatemala relations refers to the bilateral relations between Republic of Cuba and Guatemala. Both nations are members of the Association of Caribbean States, Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, Organization of Ibero-American States and the United Nations. Cuba has an embassy in Guatemala City and Guatemala has an embassy in Havana.