Understanding BRICS Strategy To Develop Cuba

Doing this would improve Cuba's integration into the multipolar global economy and reap benefits from connectivity with BRICS help and China’s BRI’s investments.

Cuba's engagement with the BRICS bloc and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has been a subject of interest for many observers who question the extent of the benefits derived from these partnerships. China’s BRI presence in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), counts with ten countries in the said region having signed up, which presents an opportunity for Cuba to engage in infrastructure development and trade relationships. This article tracks relevant recent Cuban-BRICS relations to ascertain the geoeconomic progress and suggest how the relations should develop.

The question in everyone's minds – especially Jackson Hinckle – is why Cuba, a nation historically close to the Communist states of the planet like the Soviet Union and China, has not enjoyed a radical positive change in its economy and overall city development. The US blockade's impact on Cuba is profound, targeting key economic areas and hindering the country's development efforts of trade and investments. It undermines the sovereignty, rights to live and the right to development of the Cuban people, running counter to international law. The embargo's restrictions on trade and financial transactions have led to significant economic losses for Cuba. Moreover, the U.S. has been investing in soft power strategies, such as cultural Hybrid War grooming of artists and recruiting academics who have some influence in Cuba and other Global South countries.

Economic Diversification with BRICS

Cuba's path to modernization and efficient trade amidst the enduring US embargo involves a multifaceted approach that leverages its global relationships and addresses internal economic strategies. The island-nation socialist government has emphasized socialism and human development to great effect, and this same base is being upgraded now by integrating more access to markets, infrastructure investments, and exponential trade. 

In 2018, Cuba signed a memorandum of understanding and officially joined the Belt and Road Initiative and is currently among 22 BRI countries in Latin America & Caribbean region. Nonetheless, BRI in Cuba only began true implementation in 2021 after two things happened 1) Cuba joined Cuba's entry into the Belt and Road Energy Partnership (BREP) which has a focus on energy infrastructure development and 2) Cuba signed a cooperation plan to promote the construction of the China-proposed BRI, confirming the mutual impetus in effect, marking a significant step in the economic planning and market building. Then Cuba's 2023 participation in the BRICS Summit as the Pro Tempore President of the G-77 + China indicated a promise of a synergy between Cuba and BRICS enhancing the trade and infrastructure. 

Despite these engagements, the anticipated economic windfalls from such partnerships have not been as significant enough to stabilize Cuba. This could be attributed to several factors, including international trade, the impact of the global pandemic lockdown, and the internal monetary challenges faced by Cuba. Moreover, the US could have been discouraging Cuba's full integration with BRICS behind doors, threatening it with the fullest increase of the embargo blockade, possibly even threatening to sanction countries that do business with Cuba, especially those under the collective West's banner like Netherlands, Spain and Canada.

Cuba might be wary of a significant increase in an Economic Hybrid War embargo could occur if the island pivots toward full ascension into BRICS, as this would alter the balance of economic power in the region and the US neocolonial calculus for the country to grow with multipolar networks. The possible intensification of sanctions and the embargo is a strategy that could have profound implications for Cuba's trade dynamics. Sanctions have been a tool to exert pressure and influence on Cuba's trade relations and could particularly be used with key partners like Spain, Netherlands, and Canada, which would face US pressure. Sovereign multipolar Venezuela has historically been a strong partner of Cuba, while Russia and China have been augmenting both their imports and exports in the last decade, all of them showing a growing share.

Nonetheless, if a sudden increase in economic Hybrid War were to take place Cuba would find heavy sanctions impacting a significant chunk of trade with European states and Canada in imports and exports. The Caribbean country needs reassurance that BRICS guarantees a swift substitution of these trade partners with similar if not better trade dynamics to ease Cuba’s mind. Cuba sincerely seeks to diversify its trade partners, and strengthen ties within the ten core BRICS bloc, possibly with countries from BRICS+ and other Latin American countries like Mexico, Brazil and Argentina. 

To counter the possible economic warfare challenges and streamline Cuba-BRICS interconnectivity, the island nation should consider updating its legal and regulatory frameworks to attract foreign investment, offering incentives for international companies within the logic of win-win business negotiation. Cuba requires strengthening trade relations with the 10 BRICS countries, particularly Russia, China and Brazil, however, the island requires further access to more markets to diversify its economic partnerships beyond the core BRICS. So engaging with a broader range of countries in the Global South to mitigate the effects of the US blockade, meaning full access to the BRICS+ network of countries is a must to develop Cuba fully. 

While Cuba has made efforts to engage with BRICS and the BRI, the full potential of these partnerships has yet to be realized because of a combination of external challenges and internal limitations. Mending this requires streamlining legal and regulatory frameworks to attract foreign direct investment, building energy infrastructure, developing human capital, and increasing trade with BRICS and BRICS+. Doing this would improve Cuba's integration into the multipolar global economy and reap benefits from connectivity with BRICS help and China’s BRI’s investments.