Cuba at the UN: Insights from Ambassador Paul Hare

On September 19, 2023, Ambassador Paul Hare, Senior Lecturer in International Relations at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies and Interim Director of the Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS), was featured in the latest edition of the Latin America Advisor, a daily publication of the Inter-American Dialogue, a Washington think tank.

In the recent Q&A with the Latin American Advisor, Professor Paul Hare, former British ambassador to Cuba, shared his insights on the upcoming United Nations General Assembly and the objectives of Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel. Professor Hare noted that Díaz-Canel is likely to find a more sympathetic audience among Latin American leaders this year, citing recent political developments in the region, including the elections of leaders like Lula in Brazil, Petro in Colombia, and Boric in Chile.

Díaz-Canel’s speech at the U.N. General Assembly is expected to focus on the economic challenges faced by Cuba, with exports significantly lower than forecast-ed and stagnant tourism. He is likely to attribute these issues to the long-standing U.S. embargo. However, Professor Hare pointed out that Cuba’s alliance with Russia, especially in light of the Ukraine invasion, has raised questions among its former nonaligned movement associates.

Furthermore, the professor highlighted Cuba’s increasing dependence on the Chinese economy, as European nations scrutinize Cuba’s stance on Ukraine. While diplomatic contacts with the United States have resumed, Professor Hare speculated that Russia’s economic support to Cuba could be at risk if relations with the Biden administration were to improve.

For a deeper understanding of Professor Paul Hare’s analysis please read the full Q&A in the Latin American Advisor, which sheds light on the complex dynamics shaping Cuba’s foreign relations and its role in the international arena.

Ambassador Paul Hare was a British diplomat for 30 years and the British ambassador to Cuba from 2001-04. He now teaches classes at Boston University on Diplomatic Practice, Arms Control, Intercultural Communication, and on Cuba in Transition. His novel, “Moncada — A Cuban Story,” set in modern Cuba, was published in 2010. His book, “Making Diplomacy Work; Intelligent Innovation for the Modern World” was published in 2015. Learn more about him here.