Cuba and Russia sign a joint declaration at the BRICS foreign ministers’ summit in Rio de Janeiro to counter unilateral Western sanctions, consolidating strategic cooperation and denouncing neocolonial practices affecting Global South nations.

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During the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Council meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Cuba’s Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla and Russia’s Sergey Lavrov signed a joint declaration on April 29 to counteract and mitigate the negative consequences of unilateral coercive measures imposed by Western powers. This agreement, framed as a direct response to escalating sanctions and blockades, strengthens the historic alliance between both nations and their commitment to multipolarity and global justice.

The Havana-Moscow declaration denounces the destructive nature of unilateral sanctions, labeling them tools of neocolonialism and global financial domination. Lavrov argued that the current international financial architecture “benefits some at the expense of others” and perpetuates a system of dependency that hinders the sovereign development of Global South nations. This stance aligns with Cuba’s long-standing condemnation of the U.S. blockade and its reliance on Russia as a key ally to resist Washington’s pressure.

Junto a Canciller de #Rusia, Serguei Lavrov, firmamos declaración bilateral sobre formas y medios para contrarrestar, mitigar y revertir efectos adversos de medidas coercitivas unilaterales.

Instamos a los Estados a abstenerse de adoptar, promulgar y aplicar ese tipo de medidas. pic.twitter.com/3vzmNWvgFe

— Bruno Rodríguez P (@BrunoRguezP) April 29, 2025

The text reads:Together with the Foreign Minister of #Russia, Sergey Lavrov, we signed a bilateral declaration on ways and means to counter, mitigate, and reverse the adverse effects of unilateral coercive measures.

We urge States to refrain from adopting, enacting, and implementing such measures.

Strategic Cooperation and New Agreements

The Brazil-signed document adds to 13 economic-commercial agreements finalized between both countries in April 2025, including energy cooperation and vehicle assembly projects. Recent developments, such as the opening of a branch of Russia’s Sir University in Havana and the delivery of 100,000 tons of Russian oil to Cuba in February 2025, highlight a comprehensive partnership that transcends symbolism and translates into concrete actions for Cuba’s national development and international alliance diversification.

Cuba and Russia’s collaboration within BRICS reinforces the bloc’s role as a voice for the Global South and a space of resistance against Western hegemony. The joint declaration aligns with BRICS’ priorities to reform the international financial system and promote equitable representation for developing nations in multilateral bodies like the UN and G20. The recent inclusion of new partners and the creation of an “associated country” category opens doors for Cuba’s deeper integration into the bloc, advancing South-South cooperation that challenges the traditional global order.

Rodríguez Parrilla’s bilateral meetings with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during the event signal a strategy of alliance diversification, strengthening Cuba’s regional autonomy and global negotiating power. Moving forward, this strategic axis between Havana and Moscow, within the BRICS framework, represents a firm step toward building a more just, inclusive, and multipolar world order.

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