Russian foreign minister visits Cuba

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov [was in Cuba this week] for talks with his counterpart, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, that were expected to focus on the ongoing crisis in Venezuela.

Both countries are key supporters of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s government. Moscow has sold more than $4 billion in arms to Venezuela since 2005. Havana, in exchange, has sent a number of doctors, engineers, teachers and other professionals to study and work in Russia.

Mr Lavrov’s visit comes shortly after U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s visit to Argentina during which he openly denounced ties between Cuba, Russia and Venezuela as “undesired.” With both Russia and Cuba intent on continuing to [help] the Maduro government, talks between the foreign ministers will focus on finding ways to further foster cooperative agreements.