Increasing difficulties due to strong US sanctions… Even the cigar festival, which has ‘satisfactory foreign exchange earnings’, is postponed
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(Mexico City = Yonhap News) Correspondent Jae-rim Lee = The Cuban government announced its intention to strengthen relations between the two countries on the 14th (local time), marking the second anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with Korea.
The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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He posted a photo of the Taegeukgi and the Cuban flag side by side on social media and wrote, “Today marks the 2nd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.”
The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs added, “We reaffirm our intention to expand cooperative relations between our two countries.”
Korean Embassy in Cuba
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He emphasized, “The establishment of diplomatic ties is a meaningful promise between the two countries to start a new relationship based on mutual trust and respect,” and added, “We look forward to the continued development of the relationship between the two countries through exchange and cooperation in various fields in the future.”
Korea established diplomatic relations with Cuba, the only country in Central and South America that had diplomatic relations with the United States, through an exchange of diplomatic notes between the two countries’ UN missions in New York, USA, on February 14, 2024.
Then, in January last year, the Korean Embassy in Cuba was officially opened at the Miramar Business Center in Havana, the capital. Cuba also opened a diplomatic mission in the Iplaza Building in Jung-gu, Seoul in June last year.
Substantial improvement in relations with Korea based on mutual reciprocity, however, appears to be difficult to achieve concrete results immediately. Miguel Diaz-Canel This is because the Cuban government needs to focus more on resolving the severe fuel shortage.
Cuba is experiencing great difficulties in energy supply due to the aftermath of U.S. President Donald Trump’s signing of an executive order that could impose tariffs on countries doing oil trade with Cuba.
Although government offices are responding to blockade measures by changing the work pattern to a four-day work week and stopping aircraft refueling, resolving the immediate crisis is difficult.
Although Russia, which shares the ideology of the socialist system, declared oil support on a “humanitarian” basis, it is difficult to view it as a fundamental measure for normalization.
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Even Cuba’s national events are being disrupted one after another.
The Habano Festival Organizing Committee, Habanos SA, which monopolizes the global distribution of cigars, Cuba’s representative export, issued a statement on this day, saying, “This year’s Havana Cigar Festival is being postponed. This is due to the judgment that it is difficult to maintain the highest level of quality, excellence, and experience.” It was originally scheduled to be held from the 24th to the 27th.
This festival, considered the world’s largest premium cigar exhibition, is Cuba’s representative ‘foreign currency earning’ event that attracts hundreds of investors and enthusiasts every year.
According to past reports by Cuba-related media outlets, including 14Emedio, the proceeds from last year’s event are estimated to amount to $20 million (equivalent to 28.9 billion won).
Another representative event, the Havana International Book Fair, was also postponed without opening (originally planned for the 12th) “due to various circumstances.”
Power outages of more than 10 hours a day have become common throughout Cuba, including the capital Havana. There is a line of cars waiting to get gas in front of the gas station.
Cuban President Diaz-Canel is seeking a breakthrough by proposing dialogue with U.S. President Trump, but difficulties are expected to increase for the time being.
To make matters worse, a fire broke out near the Nico Lopez oil refinery the day before, and the Cuban government said, “The fire was extinguished quickly, and only the warehouse where unused products were stored suffered damage.”
[아바나 AFP=연합뉴스. 재판매 및 DB 금지]
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Sent at 03:45 on February 15, 2026
date: 2026-02-14 18:50:00
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