Cuban President Miguel Díaz Canel Bermúdez confers the Medal of José Martí on his Mexican counterpart Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Photo: Abel Padrón Padilla/ Cubadebate.
This is the fourth meeting between Presidents Andrés Manuel López Obrador and Miguel Díaz-Canel, but the first to take place in Cuba. Our countries are celebrating 120 years of diplomatic relations and 127 years since the beginning of the War of Independence led by the legendary José Martí.
Let’s recall that Mexico encouraged and supported the legitimate aspirations of self-determination of the Cuban people, first to achieve their liberation from metropolitan Spain and then from the United States. Undoubtedly, the Mexican Revolution, among other models of social transformation, was a particular point of reference that nourished the thoughts of Commander Fidel Castro. From Mexico and with the support of our government, the Cuban insurgents’ expedition set sail in 1956 and achieved the liberation of the island. Mexico embraced the Cuban cause.
Congruently, Mexico watched the triumph of the revolution in 1959 and then led international litigation to demand the lifting of the embargo of which the Cuban people were the main victims. As President López Obrador pointed out, the Cuban Revolution has evolved from a social revolution into a heroic resistance struggle. Mexican, Latin American and other companies are investing in Cuba despite the unilateral US blockade.
Let’s not forget that the creation of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) was born out of the idea of breaking Cuba’s regional isolation, which was deliberately excluded by the OAS. Over the years we have verified the virtues and advantages of this mechanism as ideal for non-politicized cooperation between our countries.
The humanitarian consequences of the embargo, accumulated over 60 years, have prompted the Cuban government and people to build a largely self-sufficient economy, not without great sacrifice. One of its great achievements is the impressive medical and scientific development for the benefit of its population, which is shared in solidarity with many other countries. For decades, Mexico has received Cuban medical brigades working in the most marginalized areas of our country. During the pandemic, this solidarity collaboration has been intensified with the deployment of medical personnel to Mexico at the most critical moments of the contagion. In this framework, two important instruments were signed: the Memorandum of Understanding on Bilateral Cooperation and the Cooperation Agreement between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Health.
The cultural relationship with Cuba runs deep, not only due to Cuban migration, but also due to shared ethnic affinities and heritage. Last April, the Havana International Book Fair had Mexico as its guest of honour.
Mexico also announced that it would seek to open a consulate in Cuba to strengthen and expand the consular services currently provided by the embassy in Havana.
Our countries have walked parallel historical paths, and we have stood in solidarity against outside interference and threats. We share and appreciate the lessons we have learned as brother peoples.