Matija Šerić
At the beginning of December, the Venezuelan Ministry of National Commerce announced that it had held important discussions with Cuban representatives (officials from the Chamber of Commerce and the Ministry of Food Industry and Foreign Trade) aimed at strengthening bilateral economic cooperation.
The Venezuelans emphasized “supporting the Cuban people through a program for selling food at fair prices and quality, ensuring market access.” They also stated that Venezuela and Cuba are “united brothers in solidarity!” They could have easily added: “in difficult times,” as the usual hardships for Cuba and Venezuela in recent years have become even more extreme. Despite the challenges, the Cuban-Venezuelan alliance forged in the late 20th and early 21st centuries remains steadfast.
The Beginnings of a Strategic Partnership
The strategic alliance between Cuba and Venezuela began with the rise of the colorful Hugo Chávez to power in Venezuela in 1999. Inspired by the romantic Cuban Revolution and Fidel Castro as its undisputed leader, Chávez initiated close cooperation with the communist island. The foundational ties were their shared socialist ideology and anti-imperialism (read: anti-Americanism). Chávez developed a personal alliance with Castro based on two principles: 1) anti-globalist ideas resisting American imperialism; 2) socialist ideals from Marx and Engels. Chávez referred to Castro as his mentor and declared Cuba’s communist dictatorship to be a revolutionary democracy.
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