ABSTRACT
Cuba's policy toward Latin America and the Caribbean and its positions oil agenda issues for the region, has, as a basic point of reference, the US policy toward Cuba and toward the region. This chapter examines Cuba's perception of US policy and its effects on its own foreign policy. Cuba identifies with the region's current and future strategic interests, and considers it the natural realm for its endeavors toward economic and political integration. With the broadening of Cuba's political and economic interstate relations with Latin America and the Caribbean, diplomacy has become increasingly important in Cuba's foreign policy. Increasing economic dependence and its counterpart, underdevelopment, continue to be the region's main political problem and, consequently, one of the priority issues for Cuban foreign policy. Cuban policy has been and will be to support and collaborate in sustaining all institutions aiming to promote economic integration as well as fostering jointly owned state enterprises.
