ABSTRACT
The history of Soviet-Cuban economic relations can be divided into four periods. The first period, 1959-1966, was characterized by the establishment of strong economic linkages between the two nations which were vital to the consolidation and survival of the Revolution: the USSR signed a six-year trade agreement with Cuba, bought the sugar which the island previously sold to the United States, supplied practically all oil and weapons, and granted substantial economic and technical aid. Historically, Cuba’s economy has been highly integrated with that of a single developed country; heavy reliance on one major trade partner has made the island more vulnerable to economic and political influence. Cuba obviously has benefitted from Soviet concessionary oil prices. Until the 1973 energy crisis, the island paid a price equal to or slightly below the world oil price.
