Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel during a brief stop in Havana as part of a broader Latin American outreach. The confirmation came through an official Russian channel, which shared a photo and the note that Lavrov was received by the Cuban president, underscoring the importance of the meeting in bilateral ties.
Lavrov traveled to Cuba on a Monday, February 19, as the first leg of a Latin American itinerary that continues through February 22. The short visit is framed as a key moment in sustaining dialogue on political, economic, and regional issues, with both sides expressing openness to deepen cooperation amid changing regional dynamics.
Earlier in February, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced Lavrov would also visit Venezuela as part of the same tour. An official statement from Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the ministry, indicated that talks in Cuba would involve Diaz-Canel and Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, the Cuban foreign minister. The discussions were billed as a platform to review current bilateral projects, coordinate positions on global and regional topics, and exchange perspectives on issues of mutual interest between Moscow and Havana.
According to official accounts, the conversations aimed to reaffirm a long history of collaboration, including diplomatic, economic, and cultural exchanges. The parties were also expected to touch on ongoing and future initiatives, assess progress on existing agreements, and outline potential pathways for expanded cooperation in sectors where both countries see strategic value, such as energy, telecommunications, and agriculture, while aligning on regional concerns and shared priorities in the Western Hemisphere.
Observers note that Lavrov’s visit to Cuba fits within a pattern of Moscow strengthening its presence in Latin America as Washington recalibrates its own policies in the region. The Cuban leadership has long positioned itself as a partner in dialogues that include energy security, development aid, and political exchange, and the February meetings are viewed as part of a broader approach to maintain momentum in bilateral relations despite broader geopolitical tensions.