14 October 2024

Cuba has written formally requesting partner status in the BRICS group of nations. The letter was sent to the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, as the bloc’s present pro-tempore Chair of the group.

In a message published on X, Carlos Pereira, the Director General of Bilateral Affairs of the Cuban Foreign Ministry (MINREX), wrote: “Cuba has officially requested to join the BRICS as a “Partner Country.” In doing so he noted that the Group “is consolidating itself as a key player in global geopolitics and a source of hope for the countries of the South.”

In June, Cuba’s Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodriguez, spelt out Cuba’s thinking when he addressed a meeting of BRICS Foreign Ministers held in Nizhny Novgorod in western Russia.  The Group’s strategic expansion, he said, meant that it now represents more than 45% of the world’s population and a third of the planet’s GDP, and was “a hope for the countries of the South in building a more just, equitable and sustainable multilateral international order.”

In doing so he referenced Cuba’s interest in the BRICS contribution to agricultural development and food security, the role of its New Development Bank, its broad-based foreign currency reserve mechanism, and the access it provided to financial resources on favourable terms. At the time he made clear “Cuba’s determination to evaluate all possible avenues for closer relations with the BRICS, in search of mutual benefits, including the possibility of becoming an Associate State of the group.”

In his remarks at the time, Rodriguez, emphasised Cuba’s existing involvement in what he described as “the far-reaching initiatives promoted by member countries of the Group,” including China’s Belt and Road Initiative, other global Chinese initiatives on security and development, and its interest as an observer member in seeking closer engagement in the projects of the Eurasian Economic Union.

Highlights in this issue: 

• Cubans overseas encouraged to invest, participate in Cuban ICT development
• Issues being addressed by state audit of tourism published
• Rodriguez says Cuba ready for the outcome of the US election
• Russia-Cuba Joint Intergovernmental Commission to meet at time of FIHAV 2024
• Vietnam and Cuba’s military agree to deepen political co-operation  

Cuba has not yet formally confirmed whether President Díaz-Canel will participate in the expanded “Outreach” BRICS plus summit of the group that will be held from  22-24 October in Kazan in southwest Russia. However, Viktor Koronelli, Russia’s Ambassador to Cuba, was quoted by TASS  on 7 October as saying Havana had submitted “an official application to the Russian side to receive partner status, since Russia is chairing BRICS this year.” 

“In our opinion, they are interested in almost all areas of BRICS activity,” Koronelli told the official news agency. “Where they will participate more or less actively, we must wait for the decision on granting partner status, then we will see,” he said noting also that Cuba’s President, “has an invitation to take part in the extended meeting ….”

The BRICS  grouping initially involved Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa but has recently expanded to include, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates. Initially conceived as a body to promote investment opportunities, it has since become an effective geopolitical grouping holding both core group meetings and BRICS plus discussions on issues ranging from de-dollarisation to security.

Partner country status in the BRICS group is an alternative to full membership, enabling  countries to engage with the organisation without being full members. BRICS diplomats have promoted this status as a way to more closely engage with countries in the Global South

Cuba’s President last visited Moscow in early May. Other senior ministers and military figures continue to visit frequently.

In September Cuba’s Interior Minister was in  Russia to attend high-level meetings in  St Petersburg on security issues involving BRICS plus countries and full members of the BRICS grouping. In addition to a core group meeting that discussed “combatting the terrorist threat, and security in the information and communication space” nineteen BRICS plus nations including Cuba joined the full members to discuss international security cooperation. The expanded BRICS plus group present included Cuba, Serbia, Belarus, Turkey, Mauritania, Laos, Vietnam, Venezuela, Bahrain, Nicaragua, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan.

14 October 2024, Issue 1252 

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