Sergei Glazyev, Minister of Integration and Macroeconomics of the Eurasian Economic Union, of the Eurasian Economic Union, just completed a Jan. 15-18 tour of Cuba and Nicaragua, and presented an optimistic view of the potential for strengthening strategic and economic cooperation with those nations in a variety of sectors. Cuba has had observer status at the EAEU since 2020, has worked more closely with it and is committed to deepening the relationship further, particularly in the area of economic cooperation and development, as it struggles with its own severe economic crisis caused by the U.S. economic blockade, sanctions and financial warfare.
Cuban authorities, including President Miguel Díaz-Canel, met with Glazyev and his delegation on Jan. 15 for the Third Meeting of the Joint Commission between the EAEU and Cuba which analyzed the potential for greater cooperation in many areas, after which Glazyev met with leaders of business, agro-industry, biotechnology and healthcare sectors for more detailed discussion. Cuba is also focusing on industrial development. Radio Havana reported that relations with the EAEU have increased more recently, including visits by EAEU delegations to western Cuba’s Mariel Special Development Zone, discussing the potential for building an industrial park there.
According to the Jan. 16 Resumen Latinoamericano, Glazyev’s delegation included representatives from the EAEU’s five member states, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia, representing a market of 185 million people. Cuba’s Deputy Prime Minister Ricardo Cabrisas, also Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment, told Glazyev his country is “committed to being more proactive in EAEU activities and initiatives and we invite you to do the same in Cuba.”