Europe has given great support to Ukraine for its defense, against the war of aggression that Vladimir Putin launched two years and four months ago. European aid has not only consisted of arms and money, but also includes economic sanctions against Russia and numerous governments that, directly or indirectly, help the Russian military effort.
In its 14th package of sanctions, the European Union has just sanctioned 61 companies from China, Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, India, Kazakhstan and the United Arab Emirates. The overwhelming majority belong to China and are located in the telecommunications sector, especially satellites. This war has demonstrated the important and novel role of unmanned aircraft, the so-called drones, which depend on satellite images and information for their effectiveness.
But, without denying the important role of drones, the sending of troops to occupy territories remains the predominant factor in Vladimir Putin’s imperialist war of aggression. And in this regard, Europe has not reacted to the regime that has given the greatest support and aid to Russia in the number of soldiers sent, the communist dictatorship of Cuba.
On several occasions, Ukrainian intelligence services have provided passport photos of Cubans participating alongside Russian troops in the war against Ukraine. The Cuban Resistance Assembly has taken photographs of Cuban soldiers in Ukraine to numerous European capitals and has shown, as evidence, interviews that the media has conducted with the mothers of Cubans killed in combat there.
It is incomprehensible that the governments of the old continent, individually or as part of the Union, continue to give millions of euros to the Cuban dictatorship, while Havana sends soldiers so that Russia attacks and occupies a European nation. It seems ironic and contradictory, but it is a reality. The Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement of the European Union with Cuba (PDCA) gives the island’s regime more than 150 million euros annually.
The new package shows that the Europeans consider sanctions against those who support Russia necessary. Why, then, do they not include the Cuban regime, starting with the suspension of the PDCA?
Neither Europe nor the United States should continue to ignore or overlook the fact that the axis of evil comprised of Russia, China and Iran constitutes the greatest threat to peace, freedom and democracy in the world. Be it in Ukraine, Taiwan or the Middle East. And this axis has a valuable and active ally in the Western Hemisphere: the Cuban dictatorship. When will they take their involvement seriously?
* Luis Zúñiga is a political analyst and former diplomat.