Link to Article: https://apnews.com/article/cuba-government-mexico-health-e510cc50ec82928f770c3c109a05d502
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel visited Mexico on Saturday and spoke on how the island currently faces “tremendously difficult challenges”. Diaz-Canel blamed many of its current issues, such as severe economic crisis, shortages and blackouts, arrests, protests and deadly fires which destroyed a large oil storage facility in western Cuba which weakened the islands fragile electricity system, on “blows of nature” and U.S. economic sanctions. Diaz-Canal also mentioned during his visit, plans to cooperate with Mexico to export crushed stone ballast for a Mexican railway/train project, and that both countries “will analyze new goals in areas of common interests”. Lastly, Diaz-Canel mentioned the Cuban doctors that had been sent to Mexico. Mexican president Lopez Obrador awarded Diaz-Canel the highest honor for foreigners, the Order of the Aztec Eagle, during a ceremony in the Mayan ruin site of Edzna during Canel’s visit. Calling Him a “distinguished and admired guest”. Obrador stated “The U.S. government should life, as soon as possible, the unjust and inhumane blockade of the Cuban people,” and “It’s time for a new coexistence among all the countries of Latin America.” and Lastly, claimed that U.S policy “is completely worn out, anachronistic, it has no future or point, and it no longer benefits anyone.”
Cuba and Mexico’s leaders appear very close and will likely continue to work together for their mutual benefit in the future. This cooperation could be a danger to the US as the world shifts from clear national borders to more jumbled economic and military and environmental borders based on those of pacts and organizations. The US should begin to keep a closer eye on its Latin American and Caribbean neighbors and perhaps taking steps towards more cooperation and better relations between the US and those countries, as it shifts away from other regions such as the Middle East and Central Asia.
This relates to our in class discussions on US strategy as well as geostrategy as a whole. Both Mexico and Cuba have called out US foreign policy and have begun working together. The United States decision to focus on other regions of he world and pay less attention to Latin America have led those countries to seek allies elsewhere. In a general view of Latin America, perhaps the US decision to focus on the South China Sea and China in its region of influence as it is now, might allow China to make moves towards alliances and relations with Latin American countries which believe the US has forgotten about them.