Abstract
Cuba’s security in the 1990s is mainly associated with its economic viability and the maintenance of the internal unity and consensus that guarantees the attainment of the revolution’s project at this stage. The specific issue is strategically to re-route the country’s economy to ensure its re-insertion in the international economy, particularly taking advantage of already existing spaces - or creating them - in order to promote integration with Latin America and the Caribbean. Efforts are directed towards reducing, as much as possible, the adverse effects of a transition towards an open economy that has been sharply affected by historical factors and by the rapid changes in the international scenario. Simultaneously, Cuba seeks to safeguard and defend achievements attained during the past 30 years. Another aim is the reformulation of the development scheme, including its political aspects, to achieve a certain degree of efficiency and organisation which may allow its survival and even growth. However, the overall conditions for this to take place are highly unfavourable conditions for any brand of socialism.
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Notes
According to some authors, the United States does not face any military or ideological threats from any power. See E. R. May, ‘Intelligence: backing into the future’, Foreign Affairs, 71(3) (1992): pp. 63–72
In 1963, Cuba sent the first group of physicians to Algeria. Since then, cooperation has expanded to scholarship students, staff training programmes, construction and other fields. For additional statistics, see E. Felipe, ‘La ayuda econ6mica de Cuba al Tercer Mundo: evaluacidn preliminar’, CIEM Bulletin, 1(2) (Feb. 1992): 13–15.
. See Armando Entralgo and David Gonzalez, ‘La politica cubana hacia africa’, in J. Dominguez y R. Hernandez, (eds) US-Cuba Relations in the 90s (Boulders: Westview Press, 1989); La paz de Cuito Cuanavale: documentos de un proceso (La Habana: Editora Politica, 1989); La guerra de Angola (La Habana: Editora Politica, 1989).
See C. Alzugaray, ‘Realidades y perspectivas de la seguridad nacional de Cuba’, as quoted by Isabel Jaramillo in ‘Cuba and the Caribbean: perceptions and realities’, Conflict, Peace and Development in the Caribbean, J. Rodriguez Beruff, E. Greene and P. Figueroa (eds) (London: Macmillan, 1991), p. 67
In addition to external pressures, the cooption of the political, military and intellectual elite in the country is contemplated.
The restructuring and expansion of the Revolutionary Armed Forces has taken place in different stages and at different periods in the last 35 years. For the 1980s, see R. Castro, ‘Entrevista’, op. cit.; I. Jaramillo, ‘Cuba and the Caribbean: perceptions and realities’, op. cit
For a discussion on the concept geo-economy, see E. Luttwak, ‘From geopolitics to geoeconomics’, The National Interest (Summer 1990).
See J Nye, Jr., Bound to lead: the Changing Nature of American Power (New York: Basic Books Inc., 1990).
Constitution of the Republic of Cuba, La Habana (27 Sept. 1992), pp. 3–10. Also see P. Grogg, ‘El voto popular’, Cuba Internacional, 7 (1992): 4–8.
’Declaraciones del Presidente Fidel Castro’, Excelsior, Mexico (30 May 1992). On this same topic, see the interview with Carlos Rafael Rodriguez, El Pais (18 Oct. 1990).
See M. Ramos, ‘Nickel: a gift of nature’, Prisma, 2, (June/July 1992): 38–42.
J. L. Rodrfguez, ‘La economia de Cuba ante la cambiante coyuntura internacional’, Boletin CIEM, 1 (2) (Feb. 1992): 7.
For further information, see Interview with Chilean impresario Manuel Feliu, by P. Grogg, on 12 January 1992, during cocktails offered by a group of businessmen and tour operators who travelled to Havana on LADECO’s maiden flight (PL).
Economic Press Service, IPS, 6 (7) (April 1993).
See A. Kozirev, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation at the 47th General Assembly of the UN (ITAR-TASS, 9 Sept. 1992).
According to statements by General Kolesnikov, the Russian brigade was to have been disbanded on its return to Russia (Notimex, 18 Sept. 1992).
Abel Gonzalez, from the International Organisation of Nuclear Security, who visited Havana on 15 Aug. 1992, made statements about this issue when speaking about the technology used at the Juragu£ nuclear power plant.
M. Pinto, ‘Tlatelolco en la decada del 90’, in Paz y Seguridad en America Latina y el Caribe en los 90 (Lima: Centro Regional de las Naciones Unidas para la Paz, el Desarme y el Desarrollo en America Latina y el Caribe, 1992), p. 293.
Isabel Jaramillo E., ‘El sistema de bases militares norteamericanas en la cuenca del Caribe’, Cuadernos de Nuestra America, VIII (16) (Jan.-July 1991): 87–105.
W. M. Arkin and R. W. Fieldhouse, El Campo de Batalla Nuclear (Barcelona: Editorial Ariel, 1987), p. 136.
R. Castro, ‘Entrevista’, Granma, 23 April 1993, p. 5.
Cuban military writings on the wars in Angola and Vietnam, among others, is abundant.
R. Castro, ‘Entrevista’, Granma, 22 April 1993, p. 5.
Concerning the reduction in Soviet arms supplies to Cuba and the efforts towards savings carried out by the RAF, F. Castro, ‘Discurso en el XXX Aniversario de la victoria de Playa Gir6n’, Granma (special supplement), 19 April 1991, p. 4, and R. Castro, ‘Entrevista (II, III)’, op. cit.
For further details about the Cuban military forces, see statistical annex in Military Balance, 1991–92.
For information about the Plan Turquino and development in mountainous regions, see Raul Castro, ‘Entrevista’, Tiempo, Spain, 27 April 1992, pp. 104–12.
Mandatory military service was established by Law No. 1129, issued 26 Nov. 1963. In Aug. 1973 it became the Law of General Military Service.
Colegio de la Defensa Nacional de Cuba’ in Granma, 1 Aug. 1991.
The country received 13 million tons in 1989, in 1990, it received 10 million tons, in 1991, 8 million tons. See Raul Castro, Tiempo, op. cit.
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Edwards, I.J. (1996). Cuba’s Security in the 1990s. In: Beruff, J.R., Muñiz, H.G. (eds) Security Problems and Policies in the Post-Cold War Caribbean. International Political Economy Series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-24493-5_7
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