By Niyi Akinnaso
As I approached the entrance to the Embassy of Cuba in Nigeria on Diplomatic Drive in the Abuja Central District on Thursday, February 18, 2021, for a press conference, I could not but notice its proximity to the Embassy of the United States on the same street. Interestingly, it mirrors the proximity of the island nation of Cuba to the United States. Cuba is only about 315 kilometers south of the sprawling city of Miami, Florida, in the Southeast coast of the United States.
Moreover, the relatively low-keyed compound and structures of the Cuban Embassy contrast sharply with the imposing compound and structures of the American Embassy. The contrasts further illustrate the relative size, strength, and statuses of the two countries on the world stage. The population of the United States is about 331 million people; Cuba, only about 11 million.
The proximity and contrasts notwithstanding, the United States has been exhibiting unprecedented hostility toward Cuba since 1960! However, the historical context of the hostility must be understood. It began partly as an extension of the Cold War between the United States and the old Soviet Union, given Cuba’s adoption of communism.
The conflict was intensified by the opposition of the United States to Cuba’s Agrarian Reform Law, which culminated in the nationalization of American properties on the island, although not without plans for compensation. The conflict escalated, leading to the reduction of the US sugar purchase from Cuba. The final blow was the Cuban defeat of the American Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba in 1961. Its hidden agenda of changing the regime in Cuba had failed. The US government retaliated with an embargo on trade with Cuba as well as the support of terrorist activities against the Cuban government.
Although the Cuban action was later validated by the Declaration on the Establishment of a New International Economic Order, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on May 1, 1974, which grants nation-states the power to exercise sovereignty over their natural resources, the United States continued with its policy of hostility toward Cuba.
Yet, the phantom of communism used as excuse by the United States is no longer relevant. The Cold War had ended. The Soviet Union no longer exists. Its subsidy to Cuba had stopped. And the United States has normalized relations with the new nations of the old Soviet Union, particularly Russia. Yet, American hostility toward Cuba continues to this day.
True, the 44th President of the United States, Barrack Obama, attempted to normalize relations with Cuba, including a presidential visit to the island, but the hostility resumed and even reached unprecedented heights during the administration of the 45th President, Donald J. Trump. More than ever before, Trump imposed total blockade against Cuba across the board.
This was particularly evident in a recent 56-page report reviewed by the Ambassador of Cuba to Nigeria, Clara M. Pulido-Escandell, during the press conference. She went through the nature, extent, and effects of the blockade on Cuba’s economic and social development. The report, which focused on just one year (April 2019 to March 2020), formed the theme of the press conference and kept the press spell-bound in awe of the devastating effects of the blockade on every aspect of Cuban national life.
Particularly affected are major production and service sectors of the Cuban economy, including the importation of fuel and other oil products; the construction sector; energy and mining sector; the transportation sector; the biopharmaceutical industry; tourism; and the communications and information technology sector.
Equally adversely affected are the most vulnerable social protection sectors, including the health sector; food and agriculture sector; and education, sports and culture.
Not done, the United States also imposed blockade on the external sector of the Cuban economy, notably, financial and banking sectors, including a ban on the use of the US dollar; ban on the use of courier services; and ban on the use of money transfer services, such as Western Union.
As the Ambassador pointed out during the press conference, the effects of the blockade on Cuban lives and livelihoods cannot be overestimated. In financial terms alone, it is estimated that the accumulated economic damage over six decades of blockade is in the region of USD 1,098,008,000,000. The blockade constitutes to hinder the implementation of Cuba’s National Economic and Social Development Plan and the attainment of the 2030 agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals.
It is difficult to estimate the human costs of the blockade, especially in this age of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the exchange of medical workers, and protective equipment, and drugs is sorely needed. Clearly, the blockade has imposed a major obstacle to the wellbeing of the Cuban people at home and to many others around the world, by reducing the government’s ability to provide adequate social protection for its citizens at home and by cutting off Cuba’s export of medical doctors and pharmaceutical products.
The continued intensity of the American hostility toward Cuba has not gone unnoticed by the international community. On 28 occasions, the United Nations General Assembly reiterated its resolution, calling for the “Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the Government of the United States of America against Cuba”.
Similarly, various regional and sub-regional organizations have condemned the American blockade on Cuba, including the African Union; the Community of Caribbean States; the Association of Southeast Asian Nations; the Organization of Islamic Conference; the Group of 77 plus China; and the Non-Aligned Movement.
Even within the United States, various individuals, groups, organizations, and even members of Congress have condemned the American hostility toward Cuba and called for the lifting of the blockade. Hopefully, the humane administration of the 46th President, Joseph R. Biden, will accede to the numerous entreaties.
Remarkably, Cuba has struggled to hold its own. It is about time for Nigeria to step up its support for Cuba. One way of doing it is to partner with Cuba in the biotechnology and biopharmaceutical sectors. For example, one of Cuba’s strengths in these sectors is its experience in the production of vaccines. Its homegrown Soberana 02 vaccine to combat COVID-19 has now reached an advanced stage, with many countries now trying to pre-order doses for their populations. Cuba’s door is still open for partnership with Nigeria on its production, and the opportunity should not be missed.
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