On Jan. 30, 2009, in Moscow, Cuban President Raúl Castro and Russian President Dmitry A. Medvedev signed a “strategic partnership,” pledging to expand their countries' cooperation in agriculture, manufacturing, science and tourism. There was no public discussion of any military relationship between Russia and Cuba, an omission many analysts attribute to a desire by the leaders to refrain from antagonizing the newly inaugurated Obama Administration in the U.S. Instead, the documents promise the delivery of 25,000 tons of Russian grain and a $20 million loan from Russia to Cuba for the development of the island's construction, energy and agriculture sectors. The New York Times reports that Russia is seeking to expand economic ties with Cuba as part of a larger initiative to establish a greater Russian presence in Latin America.
The pledge of Russian financial support comes at a crucial time for Cuba. Cuba's Economic Minister, José Luis Rodríguez, stated at the end of 2008 that Cuba's economic growth rate was only 4.3% in the past year, slightly more than half the 8% forecast by the government. Osvaldo Martínez, president of the Cuban Parliament's economic commission, argued that the low economic growth rate was a result of factors outside the government's control, such as “the profound devastation caused by the hurricanes, the economic war waged against us and the noticeable increase in the price of food and fuel during most of the year.” Hurricanes Gustav, Ike and Paloma all hit Cuba in 2008, costing the country nearly $10 billion; at the same time, the price of food imports rose by some $8 billion. President Castro stressed complying with the socialist principle—“each receives
according to his work”—and said that the government would cut its foreign travel by 50% and end programs that rewarded workers, business leaders and officials with free holidays, currently costing some $60 million a year.
Former Cuban President Fidel Castro has expressed doubts about the possibility that he would survive Obama's four-year term as President. In an online column on Jan. 23, 2009, he urged that Cuban officials “shouldn't feel bound by … my state of health or my death,” implying they should start making decisions without taking him into account. The focus of the column was on commending Obama, describing
his “intelligent” and “noble” face and saying “no one could doubt the sincerity of his words when he affirms that he will convert his country into a model of freedom, respect for human rights in the world and the independence of other nations.” Castro also lauded Obama's decision to close the prison at Guantánamo Bay. Raúl Castro followed his brother's column by immediately calling for Obama to not only close the prison but also shut down the entire U.S. base in Cuba. Although Obama has stated that he will close the prison within the year, his plans met with resistance in late January after a military judge refused his request to delay the trial of Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, the alleged mastermind of the 2000 attack on the USS Cole. Obama had previously sought a 120-day pause in any ongoing military commissions while each case is reviewed.
Ending a decades' long refusal to cooperate with the UN Human Rights Commission, Cuba announced on Jan. 28, 2009, that the UN special investigator on torture, Manfred Novak, had been invited to visit Cuba and assess its human rights conditions. Cuba's Foreign Minister Felipe Pérez stated, “Cuba is a country where in the last 50 years there has not been a single person ‘disappeared,' case of torture, nor extrajudicial execution.” However, Cuba does charge government opponents as mercenaries working for the U.S. and at times imprisons opponents of its one-party system. Dissidents argue that prison conditions are often a form of cruel and unusual punishment. Elizardo Sanchez, president of the illegal but tolerated Cuban Commission on Human Rights, stated that Novak's invitation was a positive move by the Cuban government toward the achievement of greater human rights but said he remained suspicious of the government's sincerity. In a separate statement, Foreign Minister Pérez made it clear that Novak's invitation was genuine, declaring that “Cuba has prepared for next month [to testify before the UN Human Rights Council] in a serious, broad and participatory manner.”
On Mar. 2, 2009, President Raúl Castro announced the most significant shake up of his cabinet since his takeover from Fidel Castro. Ten officials were replaced, including Foreign Minister Pérez, whose post will be assumed by his deputy, Bruno Rodríguez, and Economic Minister Rodríguez, who will be replaced by Internal Commerce Minister Marino Murillo Jorge. Analysts note that most of those who were stepping down had been Fidel Castro loyalists.
As part of the budget proposal for 2009, revealed in February,
the Obama Administration has moved to ease travel and remittance restrictions placed by Bush in 2004 on Cuban expatriates visiting the island by not continuing funding efforts to monitor these provisions. The new proposal would also create a “general travel license” for Americans who sell food and medical supplies to the island in addition to letting Cuba pay for U.S. produce after it arrives in Havana as opposed to paying up front before products leave U.S. ports. While the House of Representatives passed the bill on Feb. 25, 2009, these changes to U.S.-Cuba policy are expected to encounter more resistance in the Senate, especially from anti-Castro legislators in Florida. If passed, these policies would expire on Sept. 30, 2009, unless Obama and/or Congress move to extend them.