North & Central America and Caribbean

Cuba
Last reviewed: 10 July 2008

Country information

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INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Relations with the UK

The United Kingdom and Cuba have full diplomatic relations, unbroken since they were established in 1902 following Cuba's independence.

UK policy towards Cuba is based on the EU Common Position adopted on 2 December 1996. This states the EU's objective is to encourage a process of transition to pluralist democracy and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, via intensified dialogue with the Cuban authorities and all sectors of Cuban society. Progress towards these objectives is the key to improved EU/Cuba relations. The EU evaluates the Common Position every 12 months. Following the crackdown on the opposition in March 2003, including summary trials and long sentences, the UK, along with EU partners, introduced a series of measures to express EU discontent with the crackdown on human rights. These measures included the invitation of the peaceful opposition to Embassy events and the limitation of ministerial visits. As a response, the Cuban Government 'froze' contact with EU embassies in the summer of 2003. In January 2005, the EU agreed to temporarily suspend these measures, while reaffirming the Common Position of 1996. The Cuban Government also ended its 'freeze' on contact with EU Embassies in Havana in early 2005.

The most recent review of the Common Position, in June 2008, recognised recent changes in Cuba and encouraged the government to introduce liberalising changes. The EU agreed to pursue a comprehensive and open dialogue with Cuba on a wide range of topics, including human rights, and to facilitate this, lifted the suspended measures. The EU will evaluate the dialogue in June 2009, which will continue if it has proved to be effective.

1996 EU Common Position

The UK, along with EU partners, shares the same goal as the US (ie a peaceful transition to a pluralist democracy in Cuba). But our approach differs fundamentally from the US on the means to achieve this. We favour constructive engagement rather than isolation.

Council Conclusions

Law Enforcement Co-operation

The UK enjoys excellent counter-drugs co-operation with Cuba. HM Customs and Excise trainers have worked with Cuban customs officers in the airports at Havana, Varadero, Holguin and Santiago under UK-funded training programmes. Cuba has also participated with distinction in joint UK/EC-funded regional training programmes, itself helping run and deliver Caribbean-wide courses in Havana in November 2001 and July 2002. This work continued in 2005, when the Embassy funded successful courses in tackling drugs and money laundering. The Embassy has also funded an English Language Training course to enable the Cuban authorities to counter drugs trafficking/money laundering more effectively in the Caribbean region.

The UK has also funded further programmes in areas such as child protection. In January 2008, the British Embassy in Havana and the Cuban Interior Ministry jointly held an regional conference on child protection with the British NGO Child Development Trust. This conference was attended by experts from 16 Latin American and Caribbean countries and territories.

Cultural Relations

Since 1998, the British Council in Cuba has been creating opportunities for cultural exchange and professional development in education, English language teaching, building links between Cuban and UK Scientists, and promoting the arts. A British Council office is co-located with the British Embassy in Havana. For more information, please see:

British Council, Cuba

The British Embassy in Havana also produces an electronic newsletter – "UK Today" – with interesting information about the UK and the Embassy.

Recent Visits

Former Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell visited Cuba in March 2005. This was the first visit of an EU Minister following the suspension of the special measures introduced by the EU in March 2003 (see above). Mr Rammell's visit focused on important bilateral areas such as anti-drugs work as well as human rights concerns.

In 1998 Baroness Symons (then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State) made the first visit by an FCO Minister since the 1959 Revolution. The then FCO Minister Baroness Scotland visited Cuba in September 2000. Alan Johnson MP, Minister of State for Trade and Industry was HMG's representative at the 2001 Havana International Trade Fair. Jane Davidson AM, Welsh Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning, visited Cuba in February 2002. Baroness Amos visited Cuba in June 2002 as FCO Minister for the Caribbean.

There have been extensive exchanges of parliamentarians, business delegations, trades unionists, academics and officials in fields including trade, investment, health, justice, science, agriculture, finance, culture and sport.