Shoigu reaffirms Russia's allied relations with Cuba

MOSCOW. June 27 (Interfax) - Cuba was and remains Russia's crucial ally in the Caribbean basin, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told Cuban Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces Alvaro Lopez Miera in Moscow on Tuesday.

"Cuba undoubtedly was and remains Russia's most important ally in the region. Our Cuban friends have confirmed their attitude to our country, not least by demonstrating a full understanding of the reason for launching the special military operation in Ukraine," Shoigu said.

Today this relationship is becoming stronger, he said. A high pace of development has been achieved in the countries' political dialogue. Several high-level Russian delegations paid formal visits to Cuba this year and Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero was recently in Russia on a formal visit, he said.

Russia is ready to help Cuba, which is under an embargo imposed by the United States, he said.

"In conditions where the U.S. has for decades been pursuing an illegal and illegitimate trade and economic blockade of Cuba, we are ready to provide the Island of Freedom with assistance, [and] give a hand to our Cuban friends," Shoigu said.

Moscow and Havana stand for defending the UN Charter, and are against it being substituted with the so-called rules-based order that reflects the collective West's wish to promote neo-colonial ways of living at the expense of subjugated countries and vanquished rivals, he said.