Cuba, facing intensified economic and political pressure from the United States, has reached out to China and Russia as it seeks to secure diplomatic support. On December 13th, Reuters reported that Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez held phone calls with both Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to discuss bilateral relations and contemporary issues facing their countries. This diplomatic outreach coincides with U.S. efforts to control resources and impose broad sanctions that threaten Cuba's economy.

During the call, Rodriguez expressed gratitude to China for its support, which included promises of significant aid such as 60,000 tons of rice. The Chinese foreign ministry noted that both countries agreed to continue developing their relations. Similarly, Lavrov emphasized during his conversation that Russia opposes the economic and political pressure the U.S. is exerting on Cuba, reaffirming Russia's support for Cuba's sovereignty and the right of its people to determine their own development path. This aligns with Cuba's attempts to strengthen alliances amid growing isolation due to U.S. sanctions.

The United States has recently tightened its grip on Cuba's economy, exacerbating hardships on the island. Cuba relies heavily on imports for its energy needs, primarily from Venezuela, but U.S. sanctions, including a virtual oil embargo, have led to severe shortages. The country is experiencing widespread blackouts and significant reductions in public services, such as transport and healthcare. Such circumstances suggest that the U.S. may be aiming for a regime change in Cuba, following its focus on Venezuela, a neighboring communist state, as part of its broader strategy in Latin America.