Since Fidel Castro may be on his last throes, it might be worth wondering what impact his death could have on the Middle East. For instance, Castro was a major supporter of Sahrawi independence and many Polisario Front members have trained there (and continue to do so.) Like the Western Sahara conflict itself, it’s partly a holdover of the Cold War whereby Soviet proxy Cuba would back the Polisario against the Moroccan monarchy, a US client with very, very close ties to the CIA. (Read about the Safari Club if you ever get the chance — it was a French-US–Israeli-Saudi-Egyptian-Moroccan-Iranian (pre-1979) outfit that fought communism in Africa through special ops; a lot of the muscle used was Moroccan, much like in Al Qaeda today.)
I can’t claim to offer any particular insight here, but a more pro-US bent to Cuban foreign policy post-Castro could signal a change in a lot of other policies, including towards the Polisario. Currently the pro-Morocco lobby in the US Congress essentially consists of anti-Castro Republicans and pro-Israel Democrats. Post-Castro, would the former really care anymore about Morocco’s forgotten conflict?
Also, there might be other Castro-Middle East links I’m forgetting about. Can anyone think of any?
You are missing a lot of stuff. Cuba has been one of the strongest supporters of Arab causes ever since Castro came to power. some example are (though, there are thousands, and I am not going to go try to go through that many):
Just after Castro came to power in 1959, one of his first international acts was to support the Algerian FLN resistance against the French. Cuban support for Algeria was very robust, including 1,500 rifles, more then 30 high powered machine guns, 4 81-mm mortars, large quantity of mortar rounds during the revolution, and heavy armor, and weapons, even tanks and MIG fighters after the revolution. This proceeded a very close friendship between Ben Bella that lasted for years. The friendship was so close that Ben Bella went to Cuba on the day after Algeria was admitted to the UN, he went directly from the USA, and it pissed off Kennedy.
In 1973, Cuba actually sent a division of about 1000 soldiers, tanks and gunners to Syria to take defensive positions against Israel during the Syrian “war of attrition” (after the official end of the 73′ war) in the Golan.
Also, though I can’t confirm this off hand, Cuba has not had relations with Israel since 1973. I know for sure that they cut ties in 1973, and i do not think they have restored them, in solidarity with the Palestinians and Syria.
These are old examples, but even a couple years ago Cuba filed in defense of the Palestinians during the International Court of Justice case against the Israeli Wall. Cuba has been a strong defender of Arab causes in the UN and international organizations.
Again, these are just a couple things. Castro has been a great friend to the Arab world, and all the poor (for example, being one of the key funders for the ANC in South Africa’s fight against apartheid, and defending Angola from racist and colonial attack), and his passing (if he does die soon) will be a very sad day.
Thanks Anthony, I knew about the Algerian relationship, but I was thinking of more contemporary stuff… I don’t think Castro has influence on anyone but the Sahrawis today.
The cuban policy in the Midled East will not change. Saharauis and palestinian young people still graduated in the cuban universities and can have protection by the people, party and cuban goverment because they are in distress and they are ours brothers, too. But Cuba promote the peace for every country in the Midled East. The Midled East have Cuba for ever. It does not matter who are in charge. Cuba is a very strong state based on scientist metodology with very high level of university graduated and medical schools. Pakistan probed our duty with the Midled East. Gualterio Nunez Estrada, 600 Signal Pointe 104, Sarasota, Florida, 34237, USA.
The cuban policy in the Midled East will not change. Saharauis and palestinian young people still graduated in the cuban universities and can have protection by the people, party and cuban goverment because they are in distress and they are ours brothers, too. But Cuba promote the peace for every country in the Midled East. The Midled East have Cuba for ever. It does not matter who are in charge. Cuba is a very strong state based on scientist metodology with very high level of university graduated and medical schools. Pakistan probed our duty with the Midled East. Gualterio Nunez Estrada, cuban writer and journalist, former scientist tematic writer, Universidad de Oriente, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.600 Signal Pointe 104, Sarasota, Florida, 34237, USA.
Where is Raul??? Castro?? damn, they are hidin and one is dead…