Link to Article: https://havanatimes.org/features/cuba-the-decline-of-a-country-running-out-of-food/
In Cuba, there is a food supply shortage, leaving many of Cuban citizens. Throughout many years Cubans have suffered through many food shortages, but due to Covid-19, it has gotten rapidly worse. Some of the foods that Cubans are unable to get includes chicken, oil, rice, and corn. In Cuba, it is not a country that produces enough food to feed all the citizens in Cuba, but rather imports it, and pays with it in either dollars or euros. ¨In the last 15 years, Cuba averaged US$ 2.2 billion available in hard currencies at the end of each quarter, according to BIS’ statistics. Currently, the amount available is less than half.¨ Not only is Cuba running out of food, but also the government is running out of money, fast. Including that, Cuba is buying a lot less from the countries they did rely on which includes the United States, Brazil, and Spain.
The good news about everything is that Cuba’s government has implemented a plan. However it is not efficient because they still face the same issue of running out of money and still being left with no supply of food. On the other hand, Cuba is aligned with Russia and China, who import little food to them. However, it still isn’t enough. The issue is that Cuba trades with the U.S, who is not aligned with Russia and China. Due to China having slightly higher trade amount, then the U.S, this puts China at a spot that they can take advantage of Cuba, making the country indebted towards them. Russia does have a slight possibility, however they are not powerful economically, and they do not want to do anything that directly would impact the U.S, but rather indirectly. I believe that the U.S should help out Cuba because if not China could step in. The issue is because Cuba is also struggling economically, they can not offer anything to trading partners, making that follow with deals and promises getting involved, and if not kept, most likely Cuba will be taken over. I think that the U.S should make an agreement with Cuba that first they have to have an effective plan in play that will establish an economy, and provide more ways to maintain a food source. In the meantime, the U.S will provide aid and a food source, but Cuba has to cut ties with China and Russia.
This article relates to class on the levels of analysis. On a global level, you have many countries involved including the U.S, China, Russia, Brazil, Spain, and Cuba. At a state level, you have the main actor, Cuba, which is not a stable country, and is corrupting.