Russia's Lavrov rebukes Western 'blackmail' against countries

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
20 Feb 2024 02:51
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The Russian FM tells his Cuban counterpart in Havana that both nations were victims of "illegal pressure" from the US and its allies.

This handout picture released by Cuba's Foreign Affairs Ministry shows Cuban Foreign Affairs Minister Bruno Rodriguez (R) and Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov (L) shaking hands after a meeting in Havana, on February 19, 2024. (Photo by Handout / Cuba's Foreign Affairs Ministry / AFP)

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov slammed Monday Western "blackmail, ultimatums, threats" against countries like his own and ally Cuba, where he kicked off a Latin American tour.

Lavrov, who will also visit Venezuela and Brazil -- hosting a G20 foreign ministers meeting -- told his Cuban counterpart Bruno Rodriguez in Havana that both nations were victims of "illegal pressure" from the US and its allies.

"The realities of a multi-polar world... are provoking an aggressive reaction from the United States and other countries of the world minority which by all means want to preserve their domination, hegemony and diktat," he said.

"The means used by representatives of the United States and other Western countries for this purpose do not include diplomacy, but blackmail, ultimatums, threats, the use of brute military force and sanctions."

The US has imposed a trade embargo against Cuba since after the revolution led by Fidel Castro six decades ago, and introduced strict sanctions against Russia after the start of the Ukraine war.

"Cuba knows first-hand what illegal pressure is: a total embargo which the United States alone defends as a legitimate course of action," said Lavrov, on his ninth visit to Cuba -- the second in a year.

"It is unacceptable to all other members of the world community. But that does not stop Washington," he stressed.

Russia and Cuba have strengthened ties since 2022. In November of that year, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel traveled to Moscow to meet with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

And in April 2023, Diaz-Canel assured Moscow of "Cuba's unconditional support" in its "clash with the West."

Lavrov will meet Diaz-Canel before traveling to Venezuela on Tuesday and then Brazil for the G20 summit.