Published : 2026-01-08

Reflections on Cuban-Venezuelan Relations in the 20th and 21st Centuries

Aleksandra Durakiewicz



Abstract

This article analyzes Cuban-Venezuelan cooperation between 2000 and 2023, focusing on its political, economic, educational, and medical dimensions, as well as its geopolitical significance. Following Hugo Chávez’s rise to power, relations between Cuba and Venezuela evolved into a strategic, anti-imperialist alliance grounded in revolutionary ideology and a vision of regional integration. This cooperation was implemented through initiatives such as ALBA, Petrocaribe, and social programs including Misión Barrio Adentro and Misión Robinson.

The article outlines the key benefits of this partnership – such as Cuba’s access to subsidized oil and the deployment of thousands of Cuban medical professionals in Venezuela – alongside the challenges, including growing energy dependency and the political instrumentalization of social assistance. Particular attention is given to the transformations that occurred after Chávez’s death and amidst Venezuela’s deepening economic crisis, which significantly influenced the scope and dynamics of bilateral cooperation.

Keywords:

Venezuela, Cuba, Fidel Castro, Hugo Chávez



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Studia Polonijne · ISSN 0137-5210 | eISSN 2544-526X | DOI: 10.18290/sp
© Towarzystwo Naukowe KUL & Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II

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