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The cable highlights Cuba as the second-largest contributor of foreign troops to Russia’s efforts in Ukraine, after North Korea. The involvement of Cubans underscores how far Russia is willing to go to sustain its invasion, resorting to mobilizing individuals from countries with which it has longstanding ties.
Historical Context: Cuba’s Past in Moscow’s Wars
Cuba and Russia have a history of military collaboration dating back to the Cold War era. Fidel Castro deployed tens of thousands of Cuban soldiers and advisers to Soviet-backed conflicts in Angola, Ethiopia, and Yemen. However, the current recruitment is driven by entirely different motives—economic survival rather than ideological solidarity.