At China’s invitation, Cuban Special Envoy Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla will visit China from June 5 to 9…reports Asian Lite News
At China’s invitation, Special Envoy of Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, Member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla will pay an official visit to China from June 5 to 9, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning announced on Tuesday.
Earlier, it was reported that China was considering pursuing military facilities in multiple locations, including Cuba.
As per the latest report by US Intelligence Community, China was also considering Pakistan, Burma, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Tanzania, and the UAE.
These facilities are beyond developing its military base in Djibouti and its military facility at Ream Naval Base in Cambodia.
“Beijing will focus on building a fully modernised national defence and military force by 2035 and for the PLA to become a world-class military by 2049. In the meantime, the CCP hopes to use the PLA to secure what it claims is its sovereign territory, to assert its preeminence in regional affairs, and to project power globally, particularly by being able to deter and counter an intervention by the US in a cross-Strait conflict,” the assessment by the US intelligence said.
The aid underlines India’s commitment to historic friendship with Cuba….reports Asian Lite News
India has extended humanitarian assistance to Cuba, which includes a consignment of approximately 90 tonnes of nine Made in India Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients ( APIs), the Ministry of External Affairs said in a release on Sunday.
The consignment left Gujarat’s Mundra Port on Sunday.
Highlighting the benefits of these APIs, the MEA in its release said, “These APIs will be used by the Cuban Drug Manufacturers to produce essential antibiotics in the dosage form of tablets, capsules, syrups and injections, needed for treatment of chronic communicable diseases.”
Meanwhile, the official spokesperson of MEA, Randhir Jaiswal in a post on X wrote, “India sends humanitarian assistance to Cuba. A consignment of 90 tonnes of nine ‘Made in India’ APIs left Mundra port for Cuba today. The APIs will support manufacture of essential medicines.”
MEA, in a release, said the assistance provided to Cuba reaffirms India’s status as the Pharmacy of the World.
“The assistance reaffirms India’s status as the “Pharmacy of the World” and underlines our commitment to historic friendship with Cuba,” it added.
It also underlines India’s commitment to historic friendship with Cuba.
India-Cuba relations have been traditionally warm and friendly. India was among the first countries to extend recognition to Cuba after the 1959 Revolution, as per the Ministry of External Affairs.
Cuba shares India’s views on democratizing UN and expansion of the UN
Security Council. It also holds the reform of the UN Security Council as central to the
The MoU was signed between the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology of India and the Ministry of Communications of the Republic of Cuba…reports Asian Lite News
India and Cuba signed a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation in the field of sharing successful digital solutions implemented at the population scale for digital transformation.
The MoU was signed between the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology of India and the Ministry of Communications of the Republic of Cuba in the national capital on Friday, according to a press release by the former ministry.
“India will collaborate with Cuba by building upon development partnership on digital transformation leading to a smooth adoption of Digital Public Infrastructure in Cuba,” the Ministry stated.
The signatories were S Krishnan, Secretary of Ministry of Electronics and IT, from the Indian side and Wilfredo Gonzalez Vidal, First Deputy Minister of Communications, from Cuba.
The MoU intends to promote digital transformation (viz. INDIA STACK) through capacity building programmes, the exchange of best practices and other collaborative activities to mutually benefit the digital ecosystems of both countries, the ministry added. (ANI)
Cuban envoy recalled the historic visit of former President Fidel Castro to India, 50 years ago on the date, and stated that Castro had laid the foundation of India-Cuba friendship…reports Asian Lite News
Cuban envoy to India, Alejandro Simancas Marin said that Havana has deep respect for the Indian history, culture and historical context and also for the will of the people and the government.
He also recalled the historic visit of former President Fidel Castro to India, 50 years ago on the date, and stated that Castro had laid the foundation of India-Cuba friendship.
Speaking to ANI, Marin said, “We respect India very deeply and we respect the Indian history, the culture and the historical context in which India has developed and the will of the Indian people and the Indian government in order to continue finding the best way for the economic, political and social development of the country”.
He further said that Fidel Castro made a huge contribution to developing the bilateral relationship between the two countries.
“This is a very historic moment because Fidel Castro had a huge contribution to the bilateral relationship…established the basis of relationship, cooperation, dialogue, respect, and solidarity that we enjoy today. No matter, it happened 50 years ago. The same values, principles, position, procedure that we cheer, we continue cheering today,” he said.
Meanwhile, a program was organised on Wednesday to celebrate 50 years of the visit of former Cuban President Fidel Castro to India.
The program was attended by Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Meenakashi Lekhi. She also delivered the keynote address on ‘India-Cuba Relations: Present Trajectory and Way Forward’
“This program was arranged today to celebrate 50 years of Fidel Castro’s visit to India and the occasion was handing over the presidency of the Non-Aligned movement to India,” she told reporters.
India-Cuba relations have been traditionally warm and friendly. India was among the first countries to extend recognition to Cuba after the 1959 Revolution, as per the Ministry of External Affairs.
Cuba shares India’s views on democratizing UN and expansion of the UN
Security Council. It also holds the reform of the UN Security Council as central to the
U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan (Rear) addresses a press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Aug. 17, 2021. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua/IANS)
Cuba’s Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, reported a terrorist attack with two Molotov cocktails at the Cuban Embassy in Washington, D.C. on Sunday night….reports Asian Lite News
The US expressed strong condemnation on Monday regarding attack on the Cuban embassy in Washington, D.C. that occurred over the weekend.
“Attacks against diplomatic facilities are unacceptable,” stated White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.
Sullivan further mentioned, “We are in contact with Cuban embassy officials and law enforcement authorities to ensure an appropriate and timely investigation as well as to offer our support for future protective efforts.”
During a daily press briefing on Monday, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller echoed these sentiments, asserting that “attacks and threats against diplomatic facilities are unacceptable.” He emphasized the commitment of the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service to work closely with law enforcement agencies for the protection and security of foreign missions in the United States.
Miller added, “We are doing that now with respect to this particular attack in coordination with the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department.”
Cuba’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, reported that the Embassy of Cuba in Washington, D.C. had been “the target of a terrorist attack by an individual who launched 2 Molotov cocktails” on Sunday night. Fortunately, embassy staff remained unharmed, and details surrounding the incident are currently under investigation.
Parrilla also noted that this marked the second violent attack against Cuba’s diplomatic mission.
In addition to enduring sanctions, Cuba and Iran also find themselves on the US’ list of state sponsors of “terrorism.”…reports Asian Lite News
The Presidents of Iran and Cuba have pledged to jointly confront the “aggressive imperial policy” of the United States, which has imposed sanctions on both nations.
During his visit to Havana, President Ebrahim Raisi was hosted by President Miguel Diaz-Canel, who emphasised the unwavering resilience displayed by both countries in the face of sanctions, pressures, threats, blockades, and the indifference of US imperialism and its allies.
Raisi referred to the resistance of the Iranian nation against sanctions and extensive pressures, adding, “Iran considers relations with independent countries as one of the ways to tackle sanctions”.
The Iranian President stressed that “America and bullying powers” cannot do anything against independent nations, saying, “Our cooperation in the path to progress can create hope in independent nations and despair in hegemons”.
In addition to enduring sanctions, Cuba and Iran also find themselves on the US’ list of state sponsors of “terrorism.”
However, this shared adversity has deepened the bond between the two nations. During the visit, multiple memoranda of cooperation were signed, spanning various sectors such as customs, telecommunications, and justice.
Raisi attended the joint meeting of the high-ranking delegations of the two countries, and proposed forming a joint commission on technological cooperation between the two countries for complementary cooperation in these fields.
Pointing out that relations between Iran and Cuba have changed since the victory of the Islamic Revolution, he said, “In the years since the victory of the Islamic Revolution, the relations between the two countries have always been developing, and especially in recent years and during the coronavirus pandemic, constructive cooperation has taken place”.
Stating that Iran and Cuba have important common grounds, including in fighting for independence, he said, “Iran is ready to cooperate with all countries, but if a country acts against the interests of our nation, we will stand against it”.
In the meeting, the Cuban President welcomed Raisi to the country and said, “Your visit to Cuba is meaningful and the proof of existence of a set of common values and views between the two countries”.
He continued, “The three countries that you chose as destination for your regional trip have a meaningful relation with the Iranian Revolution”.
The President of Cuba also said, “I am confident that your visit to Cuba will be a turning point in the history of relations between the two countries”.
Rais’s visit to Cuba marked the culmination of Raisi’s tour of “friendly countries,” which included US-sanctioned Nicaragua and Venezuela, both united in their opposition to common adversaries.
Notably, all three countries maintain close ties with Russia, currently engaged in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
Pentagon spokesperson Pat Ryder.(photo:Twitter grab)
The Wall Street Journal earlier reported that China had agreed to pay financially hard-pressed Cuba several billion dollars for the spy facility, which would allow China to collect electronic communications from throughout the southeastern United States, where numerous military bases are located.
Pentagon dismissed reports of a secret pact between China and Cuba that would enable Beijing to construct an electronic eavesdropping facility on the island, located 160 kilometers from the United States and called it “not accurate.”, Voice of America (VOA) reported.
“I can tell you, based on the information that we have, that that is not accurate – that we are not aware of China and Cuba developing any type of spy station,” Brigadier General Pat Ryder, the Pentagon’s press secretary, told reporters at the Pentagon on Thursday. According to the reports, which first appeared in The Wall Street Journal citing unnamed intelligence officials, China had agreed to pay financially hard-pressed Cuba several billion dollars for the spy facility, which would allow China to collect electronic communications from throughout the southeastern United States, where numerous military bases are located, VOA reported.
Ryder added that the Pentagon was not aware of China setting up any type of military base in Cuba or elsewhere in the region.
However, he cautioned that the relationship between Cuba and China is something that the Pentagon monitors, along with any type of “coercive activity or belligerent activity” by China in the Western Hemisphere.
A senior White House official also described the media reports as “not accurate.”
A Defense Department official, who declined to comment directly on the reports, told VOA the US was still “able to meet all our security commitments at home and across the region.”
“On a broader level, we are very aware of [China’s] attempts to invest in infrastructure around the world that may have military purposes, including in the Western Hemisphere,” the official said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping with Cuban President and first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez.
Nicholas Eftimiades, a retired intelligence officer, told VOA Mandarin that Cuba “certainly falls within the footprint to be able to collect the US military communications from some geostationary satellites.”
“This is an intelligence collection program. It’s not unexpected. I would think that this has been coming for quite some period of time,” he added. “It’s another threat to national security that we have to contend with.”
The White House and many lawmakers in Congress consider China to be the chief US economic and military rival. The US is the world’s biggest economy, and China is the second largest.
Earlier this year, the US. shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon over the Atlantic Ocean, but not before it travelled the breadth of the United States and flew over numerous military bases.
Last weekend, a Chinese warship abruptly sailed across the bow of a US destroyer as it passed through international waters in the Taiwan Strait. The US said the incident forced the American ship to slow down to avoid a collision.
Republican opponents of Biden were quick to attack the administration about the reported Chinese venture into the Western Hemisphere, although it was unclear what, if anything, the US. could do to stop it.
“Joe Biden needs to wake up to the real Chinese threats on our doorstep,” Nikki Haley, a former U.N. ambassador and a current Republican presidential candidate, wrote on Twitter.
Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, the closest US state to Cuba, said on Twitter, “The threat to America from Cuba isn’t just real, it is far worse than this.” (ANI)
Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio denies reports…reports Asian Lite News
Cuba has agreed to allow China to construct a surveillance facility on the island that could allow the Chinese to eavesdrop on electronic communications across the southeastern US, two sources familiar with the intelligence said.
The US learned about the plan in the last several weeks, the first source said, and it is unclear whether China has already begun building the surveillance facility, CNN reported. The second source familiar with the intelligence says it suggests that a deal has been struck in principle but there hasn’t been any movement on building the facility.
But Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio has denied the reports.
It would not be the first time China has attempted to spy on US electronic communications, known as signals intelligence. A suspected Chinese spy balloon that transited the US in February was capable of gathering signals intelligence and is believed to have transmitted back to Beijing in near-real time, CNN reported citing sources.
In that case, the US took steps to protect sensitive sites and censor intelligence signals before shooting down the balloon. But it is unclear what the US can do to stop the construction of a Chinese spying facility in Cuba.
But National Security Council spokesman John Kirby denies the report saying “This report is not accurate”.
“We have had real concerns about China’s relationship with Cuba, and we have been concerned since day one of the Administration about China’s activities in our hemisphere and around the world. We are closely monitoring it and taking steps to counter it. We remain confident that we are able to meet all our security commitments at home and in the region,” Kirby added.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUE2auM6Clw
Kirby initially told the Wall Street Journal on Thursday morning that he “cannot speak to this specific report,” but that US officials are “well aware of–and have spoken many times to the People’s Republic of China’s efforts to invest in infrastructure around the world that may have military purposes, including in this hemisphere.”
At a press conference in Havana on Thursday, Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio called them “totally untrue” and “slanders.”
“Slanders like these have been fabricated frequently by US officials,” he said, alleging that the reported spy base was being used to legitimize US sanctions on Cuba.
“Fallacies promoted with the malicious intention to justify the unprecedented reinforcement of the economic blockade, destabilization and the aggression against Cuba and deceive public opinion in the United States and around the world,” de Cossio added.
Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner, a Democrat, and Vice Chairman Marco Rubio, a Republican, released a statement expressing concern about the reports.
The first source familiar with the intelligence noted that while an eavesdropping base on Cuba would be concerning, China has already established footholds inside the US, namely, secret police stations that the Biden administration has begun to crack down on.
The US also conducts spying missions near China, using reconnaissance aircraft that routinely engage in electronic eavesdropping. One of those US planes was recently intercepted by a Chinese fighter jet, in what the US described as a dangerous and unprofessional maneuver.
But the revelation about the potential Chinese outpost in Cuba comes as US-China relations have reached a low point, following the spy balloon incident and several aggressive maneuvers by Chinese aircraft and ships against US assets in the South China Sea.
The US has been trying to mend the relationship and dispatched CIA Director Bill Burns to Beijing last month for talks with Chinese officials. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is also expected to visit China in the coming weeks.
But last week, China’s defence chief refused a meeting request by US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and warned the US to stop operating near Chinese waters and airspace.
“The best way to prevent this from happening is that military vessels and aircraft not come close to our waters and airspace,” Chinese defence minister Li Shangfu said in Singapore last week, referring to recent close calls between Chinese and US planes and ships. “Watch out for your own territorial waters and airspace, then there will not be any problems.”
The Biden administration has done little to try to improve relations with Cuba and has only resumed limited bilateral conversations on matters like migration. Following rapprochement efforts under the Obama administration, relations plummeted due to the so-called “Havana Syndrome” illness that impacted US diplomats posted in the Cuban capital and the Trump administration’s decision – during the final days of that administration – to re-list Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism. (ANI)
The 62-year-old replaced Raul Castro as President in 2018 and as First Secretary of the Cuban communist party in 2021….reports Asian Lite News
Cuba’s President Miguel Diaz-Canel has been re-elected for a fresh five-year term during the opening session of the new Parliament at Havana’s Palace of Conventions.
Diaz-Canel’s re-election by the 470 member Assembly was widely expected.
The 62-year-old replaced Raul Castro as President in 2018 and as First Secretary of the Cuban communist party in 2021.
He is the first person born after the 1959 revolution and not named Castro to hold both of those powerful titles.
“The government must focus on increasing the national production of food and the flow of hard currencies to the country as well as on improving the performance of the state-operated socialist enterprises,” Xinhua news agency quoted Diaz-Canel as saying on Wednesday while addressing the audience.
The President added that fighting inflation and promoting foreign investment are paramount priorities for the Cuban economy.
Also on Wednesday, Cuban lawmakers reelected Salvador Valdes as the Vice President of the Caribbean nation and Esteban Lazo as the president of National Assembly of People’s Power (ANPP).
Meanwhile, Manuel Marrero was re-appointed as the Prime Minister at the proposal of the President.
The ANPP, Cuba’s unicameral legislative body, was elected in March.
This is the 10th legislature of Cuba’s ANPP, which will be in office for the next five years.
Moscow has been also promoting its SPFS interbank messaging system as an alternative to SWIFT as the West ramps up its economic restrictions…reports Asian Lite News
Russia and Cuba have implementing financial mechanisms to shield their economic cooperation from US sanctions, as per Russian Ambassador to the Caribbean nation Andrey Guskov.
“The introduction of independent settlement mechanisms is being successfully carried out, which will help protect cooperation with Cuba from the negative impact of the US trade, economic and financial blockade, as well as establish ties bypassing the financial organisations of unfriendly states,” Guskov said, RT reported.
In January, Russia-Cuba Business Council Chairman, Boris Titov, said that in order to mitigate the effect of Western sanctions, the countries are considering new mechanisms for mutual settlements, including in ruble and cryptocurrencies, as well as clearing schemes.
Moscow has been also promoting its SPFS interbank messaging system as an alternative to SWIFT as the West ramps up its economic restrictions. Nearly 470 participants, including foreign entities from 14 countries, have already joined the SPFS. Russia has also accelerated efforts to move away from the US dollar and euro towards settlements in national currencies.
