After the Castro Era, Cuba's Foreign Policy: Revolutionary Continuity or Emerging Realism
Author : Rubrick Biegon
Abstract :
An ideological and revolutionary framework, initially established by Fidel Castro after the success of the 1959 revolution and later somewhat upheld by Raúl Castro, has primarily shaped Cuba's foreign policy in recent decades. Historically, this discussion has centered on three key points: resistance to American imperialism, backing for socialist movements in Africa and Latin America, and a focus on political independence and self-sufficiency. But after Raúl Castro stepped down and Miguel Díaz-Canel led a partial handover to a new generation of leaders, Cuba's foreign policy has faced new challenges: Does it continue to adhere to the ideals of the revolution, or is it moving in the direction of a different kind of realism? Cuba has demonstrated an increasing preference for multilateralism in its foreign policy on the international scene. Initiatives to recast Cuba as a peaceful but independent country, participation in climate change talks, and participation in UN forums all point to a shift away from revolutionary isolation and toward international engagement. Cuba's use of medical diplomacy, one of its most potent soft power instruments, continues to be essential to its worldwide sway, with the sending of Cuban medical personnel to other nations supporting the legitimacy of its foreign policy. Concurrently, practical attempts to mend fences with the European Union and a few Latin American nations indicate that Cuba's new leadership is adopting a type of measured realism that significantly differs from its previous revolutionary foreign policy.
Keywords : Regionalism, post-Castro, realism, soft power, Cuban foreign policy