On Monday, Trump told reporters he thought he would have the “honour of taking Cuba.”

“I do believe I’ll be … having the honour of taking Cuba. That would be good. That’s a big honour,” he said during an executive order signing at the White House.

On Tuesday, Díaz-Canel said the U.S. would face “unbreakable resistance” if it attempted a takeover.

In a post on X, Díaz-Canel said the U.S. publicly threatened Cuba, almost daily, to overthrow the constitutional order by force.

“This is the only way to explain the fierce economic war being waged as collective punishment against the entire people.”

For weeks, Trump has been repeating that Cuba is on the brink of collapse.

Under Trump, Washington has increased economic pressure on Cuba, aiming to cut off the flow of foreign currency and oil to the Caribbean island.

The pressure intensified after U.S. authorities carried out an operation in January in which Venezuela’s president, Nicolás Maduro, was arrested in the capital Caracas and taken to the U.S.

The move deprived Havana of one of its most important allies, which had long supported the island, particularly through oil supplies, amid the decades-long U.S. trade embargo with Cuba.

Currently, Cuba is in one of its most severe economic crises since the revolution led by Fidel Castro in 1959.

Source: dpa/NAN

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The United States has threatened to impose tariffs on any country providing oil to Cuba, increasing pressure on the island nation following a decades-long trade embargo and the U.S. seizure of Venezuela’s leader Nicolás Maduro in January.

Venezuela had been the main supplier of oil to Havana but Washington has been ratcheting up pressure on Cuba in recent weeks.

The pressure includes an executive order on Jan. 29  threatening to impose additional tariffs on countries that sell oil to Cuba, including Mexico.

“I can tell you that the Secretary-General is extremely concerned about the humanitarian situation in Cuba, which will worsen, and if not collapse, if its oil needs go unmet,”  UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said in a statement.

The UN chief noted that the General Assembly has been calling for an end to the U.S. embargo for more than three decades.

”The Secretary-General urges all parties to pursue dialogue and respect for international law.

“The fuel crisis has pushed up food prices for Cubans, led to severe fuel shortages and major power cuts throughout the country.

“Clearly what we see now, especially after the recent events in Venezuela, is a combination of emotions,” Francisco Pichon the most senior United Nations official in Cuba, said.

He, however, described “a mix of resilience, but also grief, sorrow and indignation, and some concern about the regional developments.”

Thirty-two Cubans were killed in Venezuela on  January 3 in the U.S. operation to capture Maduro, according to official figures.

Source: NAN

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As reported by the Presidency on X, Jorge Fornet, director of the Center for Literary Research of Casa de las Americas, in his remarks of praise, said that awarding Soyinka the medal that bore the name of that extraordinary woman was an act of justice that honoured them.

After the ceremony, Diaz-Canel held a meeting with Soyinka, where he gave thanks for the visit in such a complex moment for Cuba.

It is the visit of a brother who has always been fighting for the most just causes, the president noted.

The Haydee Santamaria Medal is conferred on national and foreign citizens and groups who, over the years, have shared the main objectives of the Casa: the enrichment, defense and integration of the genuine cultures of the region and the entire South.

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The event also celebrated Wole Soyinka’s 90th birthday and the 60th anniversary of his first visit to Cuba, where he had returned on several occasions.

Soyinka, who, during the tribute had stated that “Cuba is also my home”, referred during the meeting to the strong ties that united the island and Africa.

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The Director of Information, Office of the Vice President, Mr Olusola Abiola, in a statement, said Shettima would join other world leaders, including the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Gutteres, at the summit.

He said the summit would deliberate on development issues facing members, mostly from the global south.

“The summit will equally explore proactive ways of addressing challenges facing the development of the member-states leveraging science, technology and innovation to enhance socio-economic growth.

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“Also, Shettima will, on the sidelines of the summit, hold bilateral meetings with other world leaders to promote Nigeria’s trade and investment relations in line with the economic development diplomacy of the President Bola Tinubu administration.”

Abiola said that the Havana Summit would be hosted by the president of the Republic of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, in his capacity as chairman of the G77.

The theme of the summit is “Current Development Challenges: The Role of Science, Technology and Innovation.”

He recalled that Nigeria was a founding member of the G77 group established in 1964 by 77 developing countries.

“The group, a coalition of 134 developing countries with 80 per cent of world population, aims to promote its members’ collective economic interests and create an enhanced joint negotiating capacity in the United Nations,” he added.

He said Shettima would be accompanied by agriculture and rural development minister, Abubakar Kyari, his innovation, science and technology counterpart, Uche Nnaji, and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Adamu Lamuwa.

Source: NAN

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Also, the Developing Eight Organisations for Economic Cooperation, D8, has also extended felicitations to the President-elect on his electoral success.

In a congratulatory letter to Asiwaju Tinubu signed by President Maguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, the Cuban government described his election as a reaffirmation of the will to continue to strengthen the historic relations of friendship between the two countries.

On its part, Nicaragua expressed her best wishes for Nigeria’s peace and prosperity.

“Our best wishes for peace and prosperity of Nigeria, while reiterating our unwavering commitment to continue strengthening the fraternal bonds of solidarity and brotherhood that unite our peoples and governments,” the letter signed by President Daniel Ortega Saavedra and Rosario’s Murillo stated.

The D8 statement, signed by its Secretary-General, Nigerian-born Ambassador Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam, showered praises on Nigeria for its active membership of the organisation founded more than 25 years ago.

It declared, “Nigeria is a staunch member of the D8 Organisation. The country graciously hosts the D8 Health and Social Protection (D-8 HSP) in Abuja and is on track to host the D8 Centre for Small and Medium Enterprises. Nigeria is also preparing to host the first D8 Private Sector-driven Energy Forum in Lagos in mid-2023.”

Expressing the organisation’s confidence that Nigeria under the Asiwaju Tinubu-led government would be more peaceful and prosperous and emerge as an economic powerhouse in Africa and on the global stage, the D8 added: “We look forward to working with your administration to realise the aims and objectives of our organisation.”

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Two airlines, Max and Air Peace were contacted to operate chartered flights and ferry those kids out of the clutches of the war. With the airport in Ukraine closed to international flights, Nigeria’s diplomacy was at its best as the foreign affairs ministry reach out to neighboring Poland, Hungary and Crimea to allow Nigerians to cross into their country without visas. Help desks were also open at the border posts to offer assistance to Nigerians moving to those countries from Ukraine.

It is wrong for Russia to invade Ukraine and it is also very wrong for Ukraine to open its borders and allow US have a foothold on its soul.

And true to the assurance given by the Federal Government, Nigerians in Ukraine have been returning to the country since last week Thursday. Max Air was the first to ferry about 450 of our compatriots back to the country followed closely by Air Peace that brought in 181 people. Aside from facilitating their return journey, the federal government also gave each of the returnees $100 to aid their return to their respective states and the warm embrace of their loved ones.

But as the federal government was involved in this noble venture, some Nigerians, particularly the youths, are hell-bent on leaving the country for the same Ukraine where many nationals are leaving in droves. On Thursday last week, a peculiar event took place at the Ukrainian embassy in Abuja where more than 2,000 youths, mostly young boys, had gone to register to join the Ukrainian army and help the European nation fight its oppressor – Russia. They believe that they have what it takes to fight the Russians and are ready to lose their lives in the process if need be. Forget the fact that many of the volunteer and ‘battle-ready’ youths have never held a gun not to talk of firing one since they were born.

And to add salt to injury, the ‘battle-ready’ youths have been asked to get $1,000 an equivalent of N450, 000 for their flight tickets and visa processing fees ready to be eligible for the trip. What could be more cruel than asking those youths who are willing to lay down their lives for the love of a country they have never been to than asking them to look for money to defend such a nation against Russia? It may sound funny but it is not and it has shown the level of desperation many Nigerian youths have sunk to all in a bid to get out of the country at all cost.

Though it is not yet clear if any of the ‘war-ready’ youths have made the financial requirements, it is hoped that our leaders would realize that most Nigerians have given up on the country and are no longer hopeful in a nation that has shown scant regard for their welfare.

While some Nigerians are deriding the youths for showing ‘love’ for Ukraine and mocking them to go and fight Boko Haram instead, it is clear that many Nigerian Youths don’t even know why the war broke out but are only concerned about using the war as a springboard of getting out of the country.

Ask an average youth of the genesis of the war and all that you will get are blank expressions or on the average, that Russia was a bully trying to cheat a weaker and smaller country. But the tensions between Ukraine-Russia have been simmering for more than two years, with diplomatic efforts to resolve the issue showing little sign of progress. As far back as late November last year, Russia has had more than 100,000 of its troops on its border with Ukraine, sparking Western warnings of an imminent invasion. There had been daily reports, citing US intelligence sources, that Russian President Vladimir Putin had already decided on a date to commence an invasion of Ukraine. The offensive began before dawn on Thursday, February 24th while majority of the country, or at least those who haven’t fled, were tucked up in their beds, fast asleep.

The invasion forces were assembled in Belarus, Crimea and on the eastern border, close to the Donbas region, first on the pretext of conducting military exercises and drills, some of which are to be performed jointly with Belarus to the north. Those military exercises were due to end on 20 February but were subsequently extended, with Belarus Defence Minister, Viktor Khrenin explaining that they were “designed to ensure an adequate response and de-escalation of military preparations near our common borders”.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict is a complex affair and a result of a series of historical moments, broken promises, mistrust and suspicion on both sides – west and east. From 1922 until relatively recently, Ukraine was a satellite state of the federal Soviet Union, governed by the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU). That changed with the dissolution of the Soviet Union under Mikhail Gorbachev in the late 1980s. Between 16 November 1988 and 26 December 1991, the USSR ceased to become a sovereign state and a Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) was formed. Russia became self-governing while Ukraine gained independence in August 1991 and Belarus a few months later.

However, the origins of the present conflict and Russian invasion of Ukraine can be traced by the expansion of NATO, the military alliance which was formed in 1949 under the North Atlantic Treaty, an initiative designed to “safeguard the freedom, common heritage and civilization of the peoples” following the widespread destruction during World War II.

After the dissolution of the Soviet Union and German reunification, NATO’s purpose had to be reviewed and at a meeting in Moscow on 9 February 1990, US Secretary of State, James Baker, assured Gorbachev that NATO’s forces “would not expand an inch eastwards” or act as a threat to Russia or the newly-independent, former Soviet states. Not only did the US and its NATO allies dump the agreement, they are bent on establishing a satellite in Europe through Ukraine and once Ukraine opens its doors to the West, the demise of Russia will be, only, a matter of time.

However, for Russia, the invasion of Ukraine is a matter of national interest, security, survival and the economy.

It should be noted that US invaded Cuba in 1960s because Soviet Union wanted to build military bases in Cuba which brought about the Cuba missile crisis. Cuba is few miles away from US. So why should NATO and the US build a military base in Ukraine which has a long border with Russia? Putin is not stupid.

Additionally, NATO and the US breached the 1990 treaty which prevents NATO and US from expanding eastwards from the then East Germany. Today, NATO and US are almost everywhere in Europe including Croatia, Poland and other places that are closer to Russia. Getting closer to Russia means NATO and US missiles can directly hit Russia. Putin had been complaining ever since when those expansions began. No one listened.

Hoping that our yet-to-be-trained but ‘ready-for-war youths’ have picked one or two things from this piece before going ahead to enlist in the Ukrainian Army.

Coming closer home, take a look at NATO and US activities of recent in Africa:  The strongman of Libya Politics, Muammar Ghaddafi was killed for no genuine reason. Libya conflict was entirely an internal one. Libya was once a peaceful and prosperous country but today lies in ruins with no known government. The US and its allies invaded Iraq and killed its leader, Saddam Hussein, and left only after destroying a once beautiful country; lying to the United Nations and the entire world that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. Till date, no such weapons were found and Iraq has been in ruin since.

While no Nation prays for war, it is the inalienable right of countries to defend their territorial integrity and when the action of a country is about to threaten the sovereign existence of another, then there is the need for all parties to sit at a round table and iron out their differences. It is wrong for Russia to invade Ukraine and it is also very wrong for Ukraine to open its borders and allow US have a foothold on its soul.

Hoping that our yet-to-be-trained but ‘ready-for-war youths’ have picked one or two things from this piece before going ahead to enlist in the Ukrainian Army.

See you next week.

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Okoyen told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in New York that the support was necessary to help Cuba out of the pandemic that has ravaged the Caribbean country.

The Nigerian envoy said that the African group of Ambassadors had agreed to raise funds to support Cuba in the face of its current challenges.

Okoyen, who is concurrently accredited to Bahamas, Honduras and Nicaragua, said that the support would be more in kind than in cash.

“We are looking at support in terms of items, not cash; ventilators and other items through the UN Development Programme, UNDP,’’ he said.

Africa and Cuba relations have been underpinned by historical, cultural and blood ties.

About one million children of Africa were uprooted and torn from their lands by slave trade and taken to Cuba.

It was also reported that in the struggles for Cuba’s independence against Spanish colonialism, Cubans of African descent made up about three-quarters of the Liberating Army.

Many great military leaders of Cuba emerged from the force.

About a century after, more than 300,000 Cuban fighters and civilians would fight in Africa on the side of their brothers against colonialism and apartheid.

The Nigerian envoy, who assumed duty in Havana in May, has been the Coordinator of the African Group of Ambassadors in Cuba.

Okoyen, who was the immediate past Consul-General of Nigeria in New York, was also the Coordinator of African Consuls-General in New York until his posting to Cuba.

Meanwhile, Okoyen hosted Nigerians in Cuba to celebrate Nigeria’s 61st Independence anniversary where he urged them to continue to be good ambassadors and support their home government.

The Nigerian envoy, according to a statement by the Embassy of Nigeria in Havana, advised Nigerian nationals join hands to build it into a country of their dream.

The ambassador, in his interaction with the Nigerian community, launched the Nigerian Centre Project in Cuba and presented the Digital Diary of his activities.

The embassy also sponsored a documentary on Nigeria’s history, governance and opportunities; the official website of the Mission, and other social media platforms for proper diplomatic engagements and effective service delivery.

Okoyen, in his anniversary address, sent special messages of congratulation to Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari and the people of Nigeria.

“Messages of congratulation from different countries were received including that of a special message of goodwill delivered at the residence of the Ambassador from the President of Cuba, Miguel Mario Diaz-Canel Bermudez.’’

Source: NAN

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The move reverses an Obama-era decision, and makes it harder for President-elect Joe Biden to fulfill his promise of reviving diplomatic ties with the socialist state, according to reports.

Announcing the designation on Monday, U.S. Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo, accused Cuba of “repeatedly providing support for acts of international terrorism” by harbouring terrorists.

According to Pompeo, the designation forbids defence exports to the Caribbean country, and forbids persons and countries from engaging in certain trade with Cuba.

The action also restricts U.S. foreign assistance to the country and imposes certain controls on exports of dual use items.

“With this action, we will once again hold Cuba’s government accountable and send a clear message: the Castro regime must end its support for international terrorism and subversion of U.S. justice.

“For decades, the Cuban government has fed, housed, and provided medical care for murderers, bombmakers and hijackers, while many Cubans go hungry, homeless, and without basic medicine.

“Members of the National Liberation Army (ELN), a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organisation, travelled to Havana to conduct peace talks with the Colombian government in 2017.

“Citing peace negotiation protocols, Cuba has refused Colombia’s requests to extradite 10 ELN leaders living in Havana.

“This is after the group claimed responsibility for the January, 2019 bombing of a Bogota police academy that killed 22 people and injured more than 87 others,” Pompeo said.

He also accused Cuba of shielding several U.S. fugitives from justice wanted on or convicted of charges of political violence, many of whom have resided in Cuba for decades.

In addition to the alleged support for international terrorism, the U.S. Secretary of State also accused the Cuban government of engaging in a “range of malign behaviour across the region.”

“The Cuban intelligence and security apparatus has infiltrated Venezuela’s security and military forces, assisting Nicholas Maduro to maintain his stranglehold over his people while allowing terrorist organisations to operate.

“The Cuban government’s support for FARC dissidents and the ELN continues beyond Cuba’s borders as well.

“The regime’s support of Maduro has created a permissive environment for international terrorists to live and thrive within Venezuela,” Pompeo added.

With this action, Cuba joins Syria, Iran and North Korea on the U.S. list for allegedly aiding and abetting terrorism.

Cuba entered the list in 1982, but the administration of President Barack Obama removed it in 2015 as he sought to improve economic and diplomatic relations with the country.

Source: NAN

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The post of prime minister was scrapped in 1976 by the then revolutionary leader Fidel Castro.

It was reinstated under the rules of a new constitution for the communist-run island passed earlier this year.

Mr Marrero, 56, will take on some of the responsibilities that currently fall to the president.

“The head of government will be the administrative right hand of the president of the republic,” state-run online news outlet Cubadebate said.

However, critics say any such changes are purely cosmetic as the Cuban Communist Party and the military remain the only two real decision-making institutions on the island.

How was the new PM appointed?

Mr Marrero’s appointment was ratified unanimously by deputies in the National Assembly on Saturday.

The state newspaper Granma described Mr Marrero as a politician who had emerged “from the base” of the tourism industry, one of Cuba’s main sources of foreign exchange.

In 2000 he was made president of the military-run Gaviota tourism group, whose hotels are subject to US sanctions under the Trump administration.

Mr Marrero was named tourism minister in 2004 by Fidel Castro and has since overseen a major boost in tourism to the island.

It is unclear if he will now remain head of the ministry.

Naming him prime minister, Mr Díaz-Canel praised Mr Marrero in particular for his handling of relationships with foreign investors.

He highlighted his “honesty, ability to work, and loyalty to the Communist Party and the revolution”.

Fidel Castro led a communist revolution that toppled the Cuban government in 1959, after which he declared himself prime minister.

He held the title until 1976, when it was abolished and he became head of the Communist Party and president of the council of state and the council of ministers.

With his health failing, Castro handed power to his brother, Raúl, in 2006.

He died in 2016.

Raúl Castro stood down from the presidency in 2018 but remains leader of Cuba’s Communist Party and a major force in its politics.

Source: BBC

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