Contemporary Havana-Moscow Relations. An Enduring Friendship in an Everchanging Global Context

This chapter utilizes defensive realism, realist pragmatism within Cuban foreign policy and the concept of a “Putin doctrine” in Russian foreign policy to chronicle and examines aspects of contemporary Havana-Moscow relations. The elements examined are the political aspect of the bilateral relationship, Cuba’s geostrategic importance to Russia, bilateral trade and agreements, tourism, cultural links, religion and a reconceptualization of the relationship’s past which has been evident for some years. It is concluded that the underpinning of defensive realism, realist pragmatism and the concept of a “Putin doctrine” is that in the 2020s Cuban-Russian relations remain mutually beneficial for both countries, demonstrated by the bilateral relationship being termed as a “strategic partnership” by both Havana and Moscow.