The Cuban Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, and his Russian counterpart, Serguéi Lavrov, signed an agreement concerning the "granting of real estate" this Wednesday. The announcement was briefly mentioned in a video shared on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' (MINREX) X account.
The agreement was signed in New York City during the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly. According to a brief note summarizing Rodríguez's activities in New York, MINREX stated that the meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister was an opportunity to formalize the "Agreement on the granting of real estate in Moscow, for the purpose of establishing the Embassy of the Republic of Cuba in the Russian Federation."
The Ministry did not provide further details about the agreement or its implications for both nations. "It is always pleasant and productive to meet with my esteemed friend Serguéi Lavrov, Russia's Foreign Minister. We reviewed the excellent state of our multifaceted bilateral relations and joint cooperation projects. I expressed my gratitude for the support and solidarity of the Russian government and people toward Cuba," Rodríguez wrote on the mentioned social media platform, without directly referencing the agreement.
Concerns Arise Amongst Public
The initial announcement about the "granting of real estate" agreement raised concerns among some internet users. They recalled that in May of last year, during a visit to Havana by Russian politician and businessman Boris Titov, the Cuban regime offered usufruct land to Russian companies for a 30-year exploitation period. Titov, who chairs the Cuban-Russian Business Committee, noted that both nations had made significant strides towards deeper cooperation in strategic sectors. However, no recent updates have been provided on the progress of this offering, which has worried Cubans.
Deepening Ties Between Cuba and Russia
In recent years, the relationship between the governments of Miguel Díaz-Canel and Vladimir Putin has strengthened across various domains. One of the most controversial episodes of collaboration occurred in June this year, when a Russian Navy fleet, including a nuclear submarine, arrived in Havana and stayed for five days.
As of the publication of this note, no additional details have been disclosed about the "granting of real estate in Moscow" for the Cuban embassy. Nonetheless, the terminology used by MINREX to announce the agreement suggests that no payment will be required for the property.