Venezuela and Cuba Reaffirm Solidarity

Venezuela's Health Minister Magaly Gutiérrez met on Saturday with Cuban officials to reaffirm the two countries’ commitment to public healthcare and resistance to U.S. pressure. 

The countries have been close allies since socialist leader Hugo Chávez was elected president of Venezuela in 1998. In 2000, the Comprehensive Agreement for Cuba-Venezuela Cooperation, signed by Fidel Castro and Chávez, created an alliance exchanging Venezuelan oil for Cuban social services, particularly in the field of healthcare. For more on this exchange, read our recent article and watch Episode Two of The War on Cuba.

Venezuela released an official statement on Sunday emphasizing that its relationship with Cuba is in accordance with the UN Charter and international law. The statement read: “International relations must be governed by the principles of international law, non-intervention, the sovereign equality of states and the self-determination of peoples.” 

Venezuela hasn't said it's going to stop sending oil to Cuba, but the U.S. says it’s blocking all oil shipments out of the country. Meanwhile, it’s not clear what will happen with the estimated 10,000 Cuban health professionals who work in Venezuela.