ABSTRACT

In the twenty-three years since the beginning of the Cuban revolution, Mexico has been the only Latin American country to maintain unbroken ties with the Castro government. This unique relationship survived several Mexican presidential administrations. The history of revolutionary Cuba's relations with Mexico can be conveniently divided into several phases, each spanning two Mexican presidential terms, that reveal entirely different trends. Cuban-Mexican relations gradually began to thaw only after Echeverria came to power at the end of 1970. Cuba's support for political change in Central America has been motivated by ideological and security considerations. An examination of the respective roles played by Cuba and Mexico in Central America in particular, and the Caribbean basin more generally, offer additional insights into the subtleties and nuances of this bilateral relationship. The relationship has become somewhat less one-sided with the reopening of Cuban ties with other Latin American countries. The ending of isolation removed Cuba's dependence on exclusive Mexican diplomatic support and cooperation.