BEIJING (Realist English). China has pledged expanded assistance to Cuba and deeper cooperation with Uruguay, underscoring Beijing’s efforts to solidify ties in Latin America and the Caribbean as United States renews its strategic engagement in the region. The moves come as part of a broader diplomatic push amid intensifying great-power competition.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told visiting Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez on Thursday that Beijing “firmly supports Cuba in safeguarding its national sovereignty and security” and “opposes unreasonable external interference,” according to a statement released by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Wang pledged to continue providing support and assistance “within our capacity” and to strengthen the friendly relations between the two countries, the first South American leader to visit China in 2026. During Orsi’s state visit, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Orsi underscored plans to bolster cooperation across a broad range of sectors, including trade, finance, infrastructure and emerging technologies, as well as to expand cultural and educational exchanges. Both sides issued a joint statement committing to deepen their comprehensive strategic partnership under new global conditions.
Beijing’s support for Cuba comes against the backdrop of renewed tensions between Havana and Washington, including US measures aimed at limiting fuel supplies to the island. Cuba has faced acute economic challenges, prompting it to seek increased backing from longstanding allies like China and Russia.
In Uruguay’s case, deepening ties with China follows historical cooperation and expanding trade flows, with both sides signaling a willingness to collaborate on shared development goals and multilateral initiatives.
China’s pledge of enhanced aid and strategic cooperation highlights the continuing importance of Latin America in Beijing’s global diplomacy and offers another flashpoint in the evolving competition between major powers for influence in the Western Hemisphere.
