In the European Parliament, a group of MEPs have demanded the Chief of the European Commission to review or reconsider their relations with Algeria. Their call follows Algeria’s growing ties with Russia as the North African country increased its defense budget to $23 billion, $17 billion of which is allocated for the procurement of arms from Russia.
The European leaders accused Algeria of emboldening Putin to commit atrocities on the people of Ukraine through its military and financial relationship with Moscow.
Similarly, earlier a group of members in the US Congress demanded the imposition of sanctions on Algeria for its partnership with Russia. They too claimed that Algeria is fueling the war in Ukraine as their justification.
Cuba’s entry
Cuba’s president Miguel Diaz-Canel visited Algeria as part of his tour to China, Russia and Turkey. He met his Algerian counterpart Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who announced that Algeria will give Cuba a solar power plant and resume the supply of fuel. He added that as Cuba is experiencing frequent power cuts and other challenges, this will facilitate it in running the power plants. Tebboune also stated that Algeria would forgive interest payments on the debts of Cuba.
Cuba has been under sanctions from the US since 1962 when President Kennedy’s regime decided to impose an embargo on it. Washington justified its decision on the basis of lack of democracy, human rights concerns and the communist regime in the country.
Read more: Putin crushes Biden’s ‘Cuba Dreams’
The embargo’s repercussions on the political and economic situation of Cuba have been drastic. International transactions are forbidden, no company is willing to invest in Cuba, aid is suspended and many other problems. Calls have been made to remove the embargo, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution which was supported by 185 nations and advocated the lifting of sanctions on Cuba.
The US was the only country which voted against it, along with Israel. Once again, Washington reiterated that the embargo is intended to hold the Cuban regime accountable for atrocities on people not realizing that the biggest victims of its decision are the people of Cuba.
Read more: The Algeria-Russia friendship spooks the EU
Havana and Moscow’s ties
As aforementioned the US was never concerned about democracy and constitutional rights of people in a country. So, the real reason why Washington imposed the embargo on Cuba and refuses to lift it is because it has good relations with Russia. In fact, during the Cold War, the then Soviet Union backed Cuba and helped its leader Fidel Castro in its fight against the US which tried multiple times to overthrow his regime.
In February, leaders of Russia and Cuba met and emphasized the strengthening of partnership between the two nations. While the two agreed to increase cooperation in defense, communication, trade and energy sectors, Cuba condemned the US for spreading propaganda of war crimes against Moscow in the backdrop of the Ukraine conflict.
In the wake of this friendship, Algeria, which is also an important ally of Putin, extended assistance to Cuba. The nation is embroiled in a severe political, financial and humanitarian crisis, its people are battling shortage of basic necessities. Therefore, Russia decided to step up and help Cuba by getting its partner Algeria to fulfil its energy needs and provide economic assistance to the island country.
The ties between these three nations will now be perceived as a threat by the US and Europe which will try their best to break this alliance but will fail miserably.
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