During a visit to Cuba on Wednesday, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitri Chernishenko assured that Russia is committed to enhancing Cuba's sovereignty, economic welfare, and overall prosperity. This pledge comes at a crucial time for the Cuban government, which exhibits many characteristics of a failed state, albeit still maintaining territorial control.
The official Communist Party newspaper, Granma, emphasized the military support from Russian President Vladimir Putin. "Russia will always stand with Cuba and assist in defending its sovereignty," the newspaper highlighted. This statement coincides with recent revelations by the Miami-based think tank Cuba Siglo XXI, suggesting that the United States might consider precise military interventions in Cuba if the regime uses weapons to suppress public uprisings, similar to the 2017 U.S. airstrikes in Syria.
In exchange for the economic aid that Russia has previously hinted at but never so explicitly promised, Moscow desires Cuba to objectively assess the reasons behind the "special military operation" in Ukraine and support Russia's legitimate security demands.
Chernishenko made these comments while visiting Santiago de Cuba, where he met with the city's governor, Manuel Falcón, and paid homage at the Santa Ifigenia Cemetery, where Fidel Castro's ashes are interred. He mentioned to the press, aligned with the Communist Party, that his visit to Santiago was initiated on Vladimir Putin's directive.
This visit is part of the agenda for the Cuba-Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Economic-Commercial and Scientific-Technical Collaboration, which Chernishenko co-chairs. His statements in Santiago are expected to be ratified and further detailed in discussions with Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel during this trip.
The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs has praised the "excellent" relationship with Russia. Chernishenko's previous visit in November included announcing a $60 million credit for purchasing 80,000 tons of fuel and a $2 million donation in parts for Cuba's national electrical system. Despite these promises, the island has since experienced two massive blackouts among four in the last five months.
Chernishenko arrived in Cuba on November 8, 2024, shortly after a general blackout on November 6, allegedly caused by Hurricane Rafael. Subsequent major outages occurred on December 2, 2024, and March 15, 2025. His current visit comes two weeks after the latest outage, again offering vague promises without a concrete timeline for noticeable improvements.
In February 2025, Russia supplied Cuba with approximately 790,000 barrels of oil and provided a $62 million credit to alleviate the island's energy crisis. However, this did not prevent the March 15 blackout.
It is worth noting that in 2023, Chernishenko announced new opportunities for Russian businesses to invest in Cuba. Despite the regime ranking Russia among its top ten trading partners, there has been no influx of Russian companies in Cuba, contrary to the official media's narrative of rekindling a dependency similar to the Soviet era.
While it's unclear if immigration issues will be discussed between Chernishenko and Díaz-Canel, Cuban immigrants detained in Russian deportation centers await repatriation. The recent detention of around twenty individuals highlights the challenges faced by undocumented Cuban immigrants in Russia.
Key Questions About Russia-Cuba Relations
What are the main promises made by Russia to Cuba?
Russia has promised to enhance Cuba's economic welfare and sovereignty. This includes providing economic aid, military support, and fostering bilateral trade relations.
Has Russia delivered on its previous economic promises to Cuba?
Although Russia has pledged financial support, such as credits for fuel and donations for Cuba's electrical system, the island continues to experience significant economic and energy challenges.
What is the current status of Russian business investments in Cuba?
Despite previous announcements encouraging Russian business investments in Cuba, there has been little to no significant increase in Russian enterprises establishing operations on the island.