Estonia demands EU policy shift on Cuba over rights abuses and Russia ties
Estonia is pushing for a review of the EU’s policy towards Cuba, citing ongoing human rights abuses and the country’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine. The move follows a shift in Estonia’s voting stance at the UN in 2022, where it opposed lifting the US trade embargo on Cuba for the first time. Now, the government is calling for stronger EU action against Havana’s regime.
The proposal comes as the e-Governance Academy, an Estonian-led organisation, re-evaluates its own projects in Cuba, including the Cuba Digital initiative. This programme aimed to develop transparent, citizen-focused digital systems but now faces scrutiny amid broader political tensions.
Estonia’s criticism of Cuba has grown sharper in recent years. In 2022, the country broke with its past UN voting record by not backing a resolution to end the US trade embargo. Several other EU nations followed suit, signalling a shift in European attitudes.
Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna has accused Cuba of persistent human rights violations, including the jailing of protesters and crackdowns on free speech. As a member of the UN Human Rights Council, Estonia has openly condemned these actions. The regime’s refusal to reform has led Tsahkna to argue that the EU’s current approach is no longer tenable. The call for a policy review also stems from Cuba’s alignment with Russia. Havana has backed Moscow’s war narrative in Ukraine and deepened ties with both Russia and Belarus. Estonia, a vocal opponent of Russian aggression, sees this as further reason to reassess relations. The e-Governance Academy, which has worked on digital governance projects in Cuba, is now reviewing its involvement. Its Cuba Digital project sought to modernise public services but lacks clear progress reports. With Estonia’s push for EU action, the initiative’s future remains uncertain. Tsahkna plans to raise the issue at the EU foreign ministers’ meeting in January. The goal is to build support for a tougher stance, though no formal decisions have yet been made.
The proposed policy review would mark a significant change in the EU’s approach to Cuba. If adopted, it could lead to increased pressure on Havana over human rights and its ties to Russia. The outcome of January’s EU discussions will determine whether Estonia’s push gains broader support among member states.
Read also:
- American teenagers taking up farming roles previously filled by immigrants, a concept revisited from 1965's labor market shift.
- Weekly affairs in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Landslide claims seven lives, injures six individuals while they work to restore a water channel in the northern region of Pakistan
- Escalating conflict in Sudan has prompted the United Nations to announce a critical gender crisis, highlighting the disproportionate impact of the ongoing violence on women and girls.
