| Keyword |
Description |
| Republic |
A country where the people choose their leaders, usually through elections, and there is no king or queen |
| Dictator |
A leader who has total power and does not allow fair elections or freedom |
| Cold War |
A long period of tension after World War II mainly between the United States and the Soviet Union |
Cuba and Mexico have been closely connected for a long time because they share a past under Spanish rule and both have had to deal with strong influence from the United States. Mexico became independent in 1821, but Cuba stayed under Spain until 1898, which made Mexico feel unsafe because Spanish troops in Cuba could threaten its coast. Later, even when Cuba became a republic, the United States limited its freedom for many years, showing how hard it was for both countries to be fully independent.
In the 1900s, the two countries got even closer through politics and people moving between them. Many Cuban activists, thinkers and rebels escaped to Mexico when there were dictatorships and violence in Cuba, and they used Mexico as a place to plan and organize. Famous revolutionaries like Fidel Castro, Raúl Castro and Che Guevara lived in Mexico City in the 1950s, where they trained and prepared the movement that would later remove the Cuban dictator Batista in 1959. Because Mexico allowed them to stay and act, it became an important part of the Cuban Revolution.
During the Cold War, Mexico was almost the only country in Latin America that kept official relations with Cuba, even when the United States wanted other countries to isolate the island. Mexico tried to look independent by defending Cuba’s right to choose its own political system, but at the same time it quietly cooperated with the United States when it was necessary. After the Cold War, Mexico moved closer to the U.S. and relations with Cuba got colder, especially in the early 2000s, but in recent years they have improved again, with new agreements, visits and Mexico even becoming Cuba’s main supplier of oil.
Bridging words
These words sound similar in English and Spanish: Why not practice them now?
| English |
Spanish |
| Republic |
República |
| Activist |
Activista |
| Cold War |
Guerra Fría |
Time to discuss
- Should Mexico help Cuba even if the United States disagrees?
- Is it fair that powerful countries can pressure smaller countries?
- Do you think Mexico was brave to stay friends with Cuba during the Cold War?
Let's write
Answer the following questions in one paragraph:
- How did Mexico help the leaders of the Cuban Revolution, and why was this important?
- Do you think Cuba and Mexico will become closer or more distant in the future? Explain your opinion.
