Cuba President kicks off tour to Russia, China, Algeria, Turkey

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Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel kicked off Wednesday a tour of Russia, China, Algeria, and Turkey in pursuit of energy supplies amid a US-imposed blockade on the Caribbean Island, which has been causing blackouts and fuel shortages.

"After two years under the impact of COVID-19, we once again crossed the Atlantic for an intense tour, in which we will address essential issues for our country, fundamentally related to the electric power sector," the president said in a Twitter announcement.

Luego de dos años bajo el impacto de la COVID-19 cruzamos nuevamente el Atlántico para realizar una gira intensa, en la que abordaremos temas esenciales para nuestro país, relacionados fundamentalmente con el sector electroenergético. #Cuba

— Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez (@DiazCanelB) November 16, 2022

Cuba has been under US sanctions for more than 60 years, leading its energy sector to rely on foreign parties, prompting Havana to sign energy sector-related agreements with the four host countries that Diaz-Canel said extended "official invitations" for him to visit.

Algeria, Russia, and Venezuela supply Cuba with oil, while several Cuban power plants rely on Soviet or Russian technology.

Meanwhile, China is Cuba's second-largest trading partner after Venezuela and a key ally for Havana.

At the same time, a Turkish company is leasing Cuba seven floating electricity generators, the latest of which arrived at the port of Havana on Tuesday.

The visit will last through November 27, and the Cuban President will be accompanied with the Cuban finance and trade ministers.

"We will be working hard to strengthen economic and political ties that allow us to continue promoting the development of Cuba," Diaz-Canel said.

Cuba's energy sector is not the only one struggling under US sanctions, as its health sector has been suffering from the repercussions of the US-imposed unilateral measures as well.

A report presented to the UNGA by Cuba's Foreign Ministry relayed that pediatric patients are suffering the consequences of the economic sanctions imposed on Cuba by the US. 

In the report, the Caribbean nation cannot acquire the Laser System model IQ 577 from American company Iridex Corporation, which limits the treatment of children diagnosed with Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) annually. If the diagnosis goes untreated, children affected risk losing their eyesight.

During the period between August 2021 and February 2022, eight infants from Cuba with distinct types of cancer could not receive the chemotherapy treatment most suitable for their diagnosis, forcing medical professionals to resort to the use of other options such as drugs, namely Actinomycin D, Ifosfamide and Procarbazine.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parilla explained that "the government of the US is reinforcing pressure on banking institutions, companies, and governments throughout the world that are interested in establishing relations with Cuba, and the US continues to obsessively pursue all sources of foreign exchange coming into the country to bring about the economic collapse of the nation."

Rodriguez Parilla recalled that the UNGA had voted 29 times, with an overwhelming majority, to end the "ruthless and unilateral" embargo on Cuba, noting that the US ignored the assembly's decision 29 times.