(Yonhap Interview) Cuba seeks closer ties with S. Korea amid prolonged U.S. embargo: envoy

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SEOUL, Oct. 22 (Yonhap) -- Cuba is seeking to deepen economic ties with South Korea as it has been grappling with the economic and energy crises exacerbated by decadeslong U.S. sanctions on Havana, the Cuban ambassador to Seoul has said.

Ambassador Claudio Raul Monzon Baeza made the remarks in an interview with Yonhap News Agency in Seoul on Monday, ahead of next week's vote at the U.N. General Assembly on Cuba's annual resolution calling for an end to the U.S. embargo.

Cuban Ambassador to South Korea Claudio Raul Monzon Baeza speaks during an interview with Yonhap News Agency in Seoul on Oct. 19, 2026. (Yonhap)

"There has been a constant trickle of new measures and sanctions that affect both the public and private sectors," Monzon said. "This is an unprecedented offensive aimed at causing a humanitarian crisis by strangling the economy."

The ambassador said intensified U.S. sanctions have had far-reaching effects on Cuba's trade, fuel supplies and public services, including healthcare. "If not the worst, it's at least one of the worst situations we've been through," he said.

Cuba has submitted an annual resolution against the U.S. embargo since 1992, and this year will be no exception, with a vote scheduled for Oct. 27-28.

"There is a clear and unquestionable consensus in the international community on the need to immediately end this unfair and illegal policy, regardless of governments' political positions or international alliances," Monzon said.

The nonbinding resolution was adopted by 165 votes to 7, with 12 abstentions in October 2025. South Korea has voted in favor of it since 1999.

Monzon said tensions between the two countries could not be understood solely through the lens of ideological differences, pointing to what he described as a long history of U.S. attempts to "colonize and annex Cuba."

In February, U.S. President Donald Trump raised the prospect of a "friendly takeover of Cuba," while U.S. officials have warned of possible military action.

"The only coherent reaction to these recent threats is to be prepared for the military defense of our territory," Monzon said. "We sincerely hope that such a scenario never happens, because military actions against Cuba would cause a war with terrible human consequences."

Havana remains willing to engage with Washington if its sovereignty is respected, though the two countries have yet to make progress toward formal negotiations despite having been in contact, according to the ambassador.

This Reuters file photo shows people riding in electric vehicles carrying Cuban flags as they pass by the U.S. Embassy during an anti-imperialist march in Havana on April 2, 2026, amid a monthslong energy crisis since U.S. President Donald Trump's administration cut off its fuel supply. (Yonhap)

Facing the U.S. embargo and its economic fallout, Cuba is looking to deepen cooperation with South Korea, citing complementarities between the two economies, the ambassador said.

In February 2024, South Korea and Cuba established diplomatic relations in a surprise move that probably dealt a blow to North Korea, which has long boasted brotherly ties with Havana.

"The establishment of official relations (in 2024) is a condition for further developing of nexus in many areas," Monzon said, noting that Cuban agricultural products, biotechnology and critical minerals could find opportunities in the South Korean market.

The two countries were also exploring cooperation in energy, a top priority for Cuba, as well as climate change and environmental knowledge-sharing programs.

"Food production has always been a priority for us because we traditionally do not produce enough food," the ambassador said.

The ambassador also highlighted triangular cooperation projects in the Caribbean involving South Korean financing and Cuban expertise, and pointed to opportunities to expand cultural and sports exchanges.

On Cuba's relations with North Korea following its establishment of diplomatic ties with South Korea, Monzon said Havana viewed its relationship with Seoul as separate from its longstanding ties with Pyongyang.

"The nature of diplomatic relations between Cuba and South Korea is bilateral. Cuba has had and have historical and fraternal relations with the DPRK," he said, adding that Cuba's diverse diplomatic ties posed no conflict or challenge to its foreign policy.

Asked about North Korea's nuclear program, Monzon said Cuba opposed nuclear weapons and called for their complete abolition without singling out any country.

"We don't think that nuclear weapons are the solution. We don't think anyone should have nuclear weapons or develop new nuclear weapons," he said, adding that Cuba also opposed nuclear testing and the development or maintenance of nuclear arsenals.

This AP file photo shows young people dancing to K-pop at a cultural house in Havana on Sept. 7, 2024. (Yonhap)

graceoh@yna.co.kr (END)

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(Yonhap Interview) Cuba seeks closer ties with S. Korea amid prolonged U.S. embargo: envoy

这将使谷歌能够向您展示与您的搜索匹配或相关的韩联社新闻文章。

首尔，10月22日（韩联社）——古巴驻首尔大使表示，由于美国对哈瓦那长达数十年的制裁加剧了古巴的经济和能源危机，古巴正寻求深化与韩国的经济联系。

古巴驻韩大使克劳迪奥·劳尔·蒙松·巴埃萨周一在首尔接受韩联社采访时发表了上述言论。此前，联合国大会将于下周就古巴年度决议进行投票，该决议呼吁结束美国对古巴的禁运。

2026年10月19日，古巴驻韩国大使克劳迪奥·劳尔·蒙松·贝萨在首尔接受韩联社采访。（韩联社）

蒙松表示：“一系列新的措施和制裁不断出台，影响到公共和私营部门。这是一场前所未有的攻势，旨在通过扼杀经济来制造人道主义危机。”

大使表示，美国加大制裁力度对古巴的贸易、燃料供应和公共服务（包括医疗保健）产生了深远影响。“即便不是最糟糕的，至少也是我们经历过的最糟糕的情况之一，”他说。

自 1992 年以来，古巴每年都会提交一份反对美国禁运的决议，今年也不例外，投票定于 10 月 27 日至 28 日举行。

蒙松表示：“国际社会对于立即终止这项不公平、非法的政策已达成明确且毋庸置疑的共识，无论各国政府的政治立场或国际联盟如何。”

2025年10月，这项不具约束力的决议以165票赞成、7票反对、12票弃权获得通过。自1999年以来，韩国一直投赞成票。

蒙松表示，不能仅仅从意识形态差异的角度来理解两国之间的紧张关系，他指出，美国长期以来一直试图“殖民和吞并古巴”。

今年2月，美国总统唐纳德·特朗普提出了“友好接管古巴”的可能性，而美国官员则警告称可能会采取军事行动。

蒙松表示：“面对近期这些威胁，唯一合理的应对措施就是做好保卫我们领土的军事准备。我们衷心希望这种情况永远不会发生，因为对古巴采取军事行动将引发战争，造成可怕的人道主义灾难。”

据大使称，哈瓦那仍然愿意与华盛顿接触，前提是其主权得到尊重，尽管两国虽然一直保持联系，但在正式谈判方面尚未取得进展。

这张路透社资料照片显示，2026年4月2日，在哈瓦那举行的反帝国主义游行中，人们乘坐插着古巴国旗的电动汽车经过美国大使馆。当时，古巴正经历着长达数月的能源危机，这是由于美国总统特朗普政府切断了古巴的燃料供应所致。（韩联社）

面对美国的禁运及其带来的经济影响，古巴大使表示，古巴正寻求深化与韩国的合作，理由是两国经济具有互补性。

2024年2月，韩国和古巴出人意料地建立了外交关系，这可能对长期以来一直标榜与哈瓦那有着兄弟般关系的朝鲜造成了打击。

蒙松表示：“（2024年）建立正式关系是进一步发展许多领域联系的条件。”他指出，古巴的农产品、生物技术和关键矿产可以在韩国市场找到机会。

两国还在探索能源领域的合作，能源是古巴的首要任务，此外还在气候变化和环境知识共享项目方面进行合作。

大使表示：“粮食生产一直是我们的优先事项，因为我们历来粮食产量不足。”

大使还重点介绍了涉及韩国资金和古巴专业知识的加勒比地区三方合作项目，并指出了扩大文化和体育交流的机会。

关于古巴与朝鲜在与韩国建交后的关系，蒙松表示，哈瓦那认为其与首尔的关系与其与平壤的长期关系是分开的。

“古巴和韩国之间的外交关系性质是双边的。古巴过去和现在都与朝鲜民主主义人民共和国保持着历史性的兄弟关系，”他说道，并补充说，古巴多元化的外交关系不会对其外交政策构成任何冲突或挑战。

当被问及朝鲜的核计划时，蒙松表示，古巴反对核武器，并呼吁彻底废除核武器，但没有点名任何国家。

“我们认为核武器不是解决办法。我们认为任何人都不应该拥有核武器或研发新的核武器，”他说道，并补充说古巴也反对核试验以及核武库的研发或维护。

这张美联社资料照片显示，2024年9月7日，一群年轻人在哈瓦那的一家文化中心跳K-pop舞蹈​​。（韩联社）

graceoh@yna.co.kr (完)

（第三条）特朗普在联合国大会讲话中只字未提朝鲜，却谈到了伊朗、古巴和其他问题。

鉴于古巴政治局势不明朗，韩国提高了对古巴的旅行警告级别。

古巴总统祝贺朝鲜领导人金正恩再次当选。

特朗普称“下一个目标是古巴”，并强调美国拥有“强大的”军事力量。

（韩联社专访）古巴特使表示，在美方长期禁运下，古巴寻求与韩国建立更紧密的关系。