标签： Cuba

In a significant diplomatic move, the Foreign Ministers of Türkiye, Hakan Fidan, and Egypt, Badr Abdel-Aty, have signed a joint declaration following the inaugural meeting of the Joint Planning Group in Ankara. This bilateral mechanism, co-chaired by both ministers, was established under a joint declaration signed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on February 14, 2024, in Cairo. The primary objective of this mechanism is to lay the groundwork for the next meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council. At the regional level, the Foreign Ministers emphasized the necessity of fostering peace and stability in the Middle East. They highlighted the outcomes of the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit, held on October 13, 2025, and discussed a comprehensive plan to end the conflict in Gaza. Both nations reaffirmed their support for the Palestinian people and expressed their backing for the upcoming International Conference on the Recovery and Reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, which is set to take place in Egypt.

In a significant move to reshape its grassroots organization, Venezuela’s ruling party, the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), is transitioning from individual to collective leadership. President Nicolas Maduro described this shift as the emergence of a ‘new organizational theory of the Bolivarian Revolution,’ aimed at empowering the people and inspiring others to adopt similar models. The announcement was made during Maduro’s weekly TV program, ‘Con el Mazo Dando,’ where PSUV Secretary General Diosdado Cabello confirmed the conclusion of the CBBI (Bolivarian Committees of Integral Struggle) elections and the proposal of a committee to oversee this leadership transformation. Maduro revealed that 145,465 CBBI units were established over the weekend, with over three million Venezuelans participating in forming these foundational structures. These committees are expected to revolutionize party activities at the grassroots level. The swearing-in ceremony for more than 260,000 CBBI members nationwide is set for November 15, with the goal of mobilizing over six million individuals committed to nation-building. The next phase involves creating the Network of Comprehensive Base Bolivarian Committees, which will pave the way for establishing over 47,000 Community Commands across the country.

In a recent broadcast on the Razones de Cuba (Reasons of Cuba) program, the Cuban government leveled serious allegations against what it described as a coordinated scheme of currency trafficking and tax evasion. The operation, allegedly orchestrated by Cuban-born individuals based in the United States and other countries, is said to be funded by US taxpayer money. The accusations specifically targeted El Toque, a digital media outlet that claims independence and provides economic, legal, and public service information to Cuban communities. The program highlighted the allocation of funds to Media Plux Experience and Mas Voces Foundations, companies registered under the name of El Toque’s director, Jose Jasan Nieves. These funds are reportedly used to promote non-state economic actors and facilitate illegal currency trafficking in Cuba. The broadcast also presented evidence of actions taken in 2024 by Xavier Billingsley, Deputy Chief of Public Affairs at the US Embassy in Havana, and implicated several individuals in operations aimed at exacerbating Cuba’s inflationary crisis. Cuban officials asserted that these allegations corroborate Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez’s October 2023 statement, which detailed Cuba’s investigation into the national inflationary phenomenon and its ties to a broader US-led economic warfare campaign. Razones de Cuba, a web platform established 15 years ago, continues to challenge narratives propagated by hegemonic media, positioning itself as a counterpoint to mainstream discourse.

The 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference, held in the historic city of Samarkand, Uzbekistan, witnessed the election of three new members to the Governing Council of the UNESCO International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (IESALC). Among the elected representatives were Cuba’s Maria Victoria Villavicencio, Uruguay’s Jose Maria Passarini, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ Janeil Henry-Rose. These individuals will serve on the Council from 2025 to 2029, joining specialists from Brazil, Grenada, and Venezuela to form a regionally balanced team dedicated to academic collaboration and educational excellence. Cuba’s re-election to the Council underscores its enduring commitment to higher education, regional integration, and international cooperation. IESALC, the sole UNESCO Category I institute focused on higher education, plays a pivotal role in advancing inclusive, accessible, and quality education in Latin America and the Caribbean, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Cuba’s leadership in regional higher education is further highlighted by its early ratification of the Global Convention on the Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications and its participation in the Regional Convention for Latin America and the Caribbean. This election reaffirms Cuba’s influential role in fostering South-South cooperation and sustainable development in the region.

In a significant diplomatic gathering, Ambassador Gonzalez emphasized ASEAN’s unwavering support for Cuba’s annual resolution at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), which calls for the termination of the United States’ economic, financial, and commercial blockade. The ambassador’s remarks were delivered during a meeting with ASEAN member country representatives, attended by Deputy Secretary-General Nararya Soepaptro, at Jakarta’s Ciputra Hotel. This event coincided with the 5th anniversary of Cuba’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC). Gonzalez highlighted that November 10 marked a pivotal moment in Cuba’s diplomatic history, symbolizing a new era of relations with ASEAN based on mutual respect, solidarity, and peaceful cooperation. She stressed that the TAC signing was not merely symbolic but a robust affirmation of principles, making Cuba the first Caribbean nation and the fifth in Latin America to join the treaty. This move, she noted, reinforced Cuba’s dedication to multilateralism, non-intervention, and conflict resolution. Gonzalez also pointed out that the treaty’s signing during the Covid-19 pandemic demonstrated Cuba’s commitment to addressing shared global challenges such as public health, climate change, and natural disasters.

In a decisive move to address economic challenges, the Cuban Party leadership has announced a nationwide study and analysis of the Government Program aimed at correcting distortions and revitalizing the economy. The initiative, spanning from November 15 to December 30, will engage grassroots organizations, including the UJC, CTC, ANAP, and FEU, as well as intermediate leadership structures of the FMC and CDR. Municipal Assemblies of People’s Power and management councils at national, provincial, and municipal levels will also participate. A preparatory seminar was conducted via videoconference, excluding provinces impacted by Hurricane Melissa. This effort underscores the Party’s commitment to participatory democracy, encouraging collective input to refine the Program and identify actionable strategies for its implementation. The process aligns with the broader goal of preparing for the 9th Party Congress, ensuring all leadership bodies and citizens are equipped to contribute to reversing the nation’s economic difficulties. As Army General Raúl Castro Ruz affirmed, ‘We will overcome these challenges, as we have always done, by fighting!’ The Program is accessible on the Presidency’s website: www.presidencia.gob.cu.