New Delhi marked a significant milestone in India-Cuba relations as both nations reiterated their dedication to bolstering bilateral ties rooted in mutual cooperation and solidarity. This pledge came on the 66th anniversary of diplomatic relations established in 1960, when India was among the first Asian countries to recognize the Cuban Revolution.
The foundations of this enduring partnership were laid early on through historic visits. Che Guevara and Fidel Castro’s trips to India, coupled with dialogues with India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, forged deep bonds. Fast forward to recent times, and the momentum has only accelerated.
Last year stood out with high-level engagements, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel at the BRICS Summit in Brazil. Key exchanges featured Cuban Vice Premier Eduardo Martínez Díaz’s visit to India and Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita’s trip to Havana. These interactions yielded agreements on legal and cultural cooperation.
India remains a vital partner in Cuba’s pharmaceutical sector, with expanding horizons in biotechnology, IT, tourism, agriculture, energy, and mining. Capacity-building initiatives under ITEC programs have empowered Cuban professionals. New frontiers opened in health, traditional medicine, and disaster management.
Educational, cultural, sports, and renewable energy collaborations further solidified ties throughout the year. Both sides expressed optimism for 2026, anticipating fresh opportunities under India’s BRICS chairmanship.
In a poignant display of solidarity, India invoked ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’—the world is one family—by aiding Cuba post-Hurricane Melissa in November. New Delhi dispatched around 20 tons of humanitarian aid to Havana, including medical trauma units under the ‘India Health Initiative for Cooperation, Interest, and Friendship,’ essential medicines, power generators, tents, bedding, kitchen and hygiene kits, solar lanterns, and more.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Eduardo Rodríguez Parrilla expressed gratitude on social media, thanking India and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar for the timely support to storm-ravaged eastern regions. This gesture not only deepened friendship but underscored the humanitarian ethos binding the two nations, promising even stronger collaboration ahead.