German-Cuban relations

German-Cuban relations

Cuba	Germany

At the diplomatic level, German-Cuban relations until German reunification were tense between the close relationship with the socialist GDR on the one hand and the critical attitude towards the Federal Republic of Germany on the other. The first embassy of the GDR on the American continent was in Cuba (from January 12, 1963). The FRG then withdrew its ambassador from Cuba and interrupted diplomatic relations. Today, Cuba maintains a Embassy in Berlin and Germany operates an embassy in Havana. In 2015, Frank-Walter Steinmeier was the first German Foreign Minister to visit Cuba.

History and politics

The German researcher Alexander von Humboldt traveled to Cuba in 1801 and 1804. To this day, he is held in high esteem on the island as the “second discoverer of Cuba”, not least due to his vigorous opposition to slavery. In the past, Cuba was also a destination for German emigrants who shaped the island in different ways.

Fidel Castro and Erich Honecker 1972 in Berlin

As a result of the Cuban Revolution of 1959, German-Cuban relations were shaped by the East-West confrontation of the Cold War until German reunification.

On the one hand, the socialist GDR maintained a close relationship with socialist Cuba. Various contracts enabled the exchange of thousands of Cuban students and workers to Germany, who had very different experiences. All contracts were limited to a maximum of five years. Most of the Cuban workers lived in Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt; students were mainly at the universities in Berlin and Dresden.

On the other hand, there was the detached and critical attitude on the part of the Federal Republic of Germany.

After German reunification, German-Cuban relations remained difficult; Phases of tension alternated with periods of cooperation efforts. An expression of the improved German-Cuban relations over time was in particular the visit of the then Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier to Cuba in 2015, which set a signal for rapprochement and intensification of bilateral relations. Both sides showed interest in further developing cooperation, despite differences of opinion on several important aspects, such as the rule of law and human rights.

entry

Cuban Embassy in Berlin

Entry into Cuba for tourist purposes with a stay of up to 30 days is only possible with a visa in the form of a so-called "tourist card", which is used together with the passport for entry. Tourist cards must be purchased prior to entry. For intended longer stays or for non-tourist purposes, a visa is required, which must be applied for at the Cuban diplomatic mission in the country of origin. An invitation may be required for this.

Cuban citizens who want to come to Germany need, in addition to the personal application of the visitor to the German embassy in Cuba, together with the passport, an application for a Schengen visa. On the German side, there are also some administrative procedures to be carried out. A declaration of commitment must be provided and health or travel insurance must be named.

economy

Economic relationships and German direct investment are low. To promote economic relations, the German Office for the Promotion of Trade and Investment was officially opened in October 2018. The German-Cuban debt rescheduling agreement has granted export credit guarantees to promote foreign trade since 2002.

In Cuba, Germany is particularly represented in the energy and health sectors and, with around 250,000 annual visitors, represents the third largest group of tourists.

In 2018, the foreign trade balance amounted to 279.4 million euros, of which exports totaling 227.8 million euros to Cuba (machines, chemical and pharmaceutical products, plastic products, medical technology, vehicles and spare parts). The imports amounted to 51.6 million euros (alcoholic beverages, sugar confectionery, tobacco, fruit and vegetable juices).

Culture

Culture plays a crucial role in Cuba's cautious opening of the country. In view of the ideological differences in political relations, foreign cultural and educational policy plays an important role in German-Cuban relations. Although no German-Cuban cultural agreement has yet been concluded, there is a broad network of initiatives for cultural exchange and collaboration in science and research. However, the planned opening of a Goethe Institute in Havana did not materialize; the Goethe-Institut continues to operate only within the framework of the German embassy.

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) has a comprehensive personal and project funding program and is represented by a lecturer at the University of Havana. In autumn 2018, the economic summer school took place for the 16th time in cooperation between the Humboldt University of Berlin and the University of Havana.

Germany participates in major international cultural events in Cuba such as the book fair, the organization of German theater weeks and the establishment of a German series within the International Festival of New Latin American Film. Exchange and practical networking between Cuban cultural workers and the German cultural scene are also important, especially in the areas of theater, cinema and music. On the occasion of the 250th birthday of Alexander von Humboldt and the 500th year of the founding of the capital Havana in 2019, a wealth of events are planned. Among other things, a permanent exhibition on Alexander von Humboldt will be opened in the restored Humboldt House in Havana.

Development cooperation

The bilateral state development cooperation was discontinued on Cuba's initiative in 2003 and has not yet been resumed. Several German non-governmental organizations are active in Cuba, primarily in the field of energy and water supply as well as in adult education. The embassy also supports micro-projects in cooperation with local partners.

Web links

Commons : German-Cuban Relations  - Collection of Pictures, Videos and Audio Files

• German office for the promotion of trade and investment
• German Academic Abroad Service (DAAD)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c d e f g} Federal Foreign Office: Germany and Cuba: Bilateral Relations. May 14, 2019, accessed May 22, 2019 . 
2. ^ Friendship Society BRD-Cuba. Retrieved May 22, 2019 . 
3. ↑ Zeuske, Michael: Father of Independence? Humboldt and the transformation to modernity in Spanish America. In: Ottmar Ette, Ute Hermanns, Bernd M. Scherer, Christian Suckow (eds.): Alexander von Humboldt - Aufbruch in die Moderne. (= Contributions to Alexander von Humboldt research. Volume 21). Akademie-Verlag, Berlin 2001, pp. 179–224.
4. ^ Germans in Cuba. Retrieved on May 22, 2019 (German). 
5. ^ Ralf Breuer: Germany - Cuba: The bilateral relations in the field of tension of international politics. Institute f. Ibero America customer, 2002. ISBN 3-926446-86-2 .
6. ^ Vogel, Wolf-Dieter: Regresé siendo otra persona. Cubanas y cubanos en la RDA . Ed .: Rosa Luxemburg Foundation. México DF 2009.
7. ↑ Werz, Nikolaus (Ed.): Cuba in Transition Contributions to an interdisciplinary colloquium Rostock information on politics and administration. Issue 35. 2016. ISBN 978-3-86009-462-4
8. ↑ ^{a b} Bert Hoffmann: Change and approach. Perspectives of German-Cuban Relations in Culture and Education. Stuttgart: Institute for Foreign Relations. 2016 (ifa edition culture and foreign policy). ISBN 978-3-921970-50-8 . URL: https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/143825160.pdf
9. ^ Invitation from Cuba to Germany | Schengen visa. In: Cuba Portal. January 30, 2014, accessed on May 22, 2019 (German). 
10. ^ Marc-André Ludwig: Cuba rejects the Goethe-Institut in Havana . america21. September 5, 2016. Accessed May 28, 2019.
11. ↑ Urs Unkauf in an interview with Jan Hansen . Humboldt University of Berlin. Retrieved May 28, 2019.