Australia and Cuba have long enjoyed friendly relations based on multilateral cooperation.

Bilateral relations

Australia and Cuba formally established diplomatic relations in 1989.

Australia’s Ambassador in Mexico City holds non-resident accreditation to Cuba.

Cuba opened an embassy in Canberra in October 2008 and the relationship has enjoyed renewed momentum in recent years. Australia and Cuba previously worked together to support the integration of Cuban-trained doctors into Pacific Island health systems.

Foreign relations

The United States maintains a trade embargo against Cuba. While Australia does not have any trade or economic legislation or measure that restrict or discourage trade or investment to or from Cuba, the embargo remains an impediment to bilateral trade.

Since 1996, Australia has voted in favour of Cuba's annual resolution in the United Nations (UN) General Assembly calling for an end to the US trade embargo of Cuba.

Foreign Policy White Paper

Fast Facts

Cuban visitors to Australia (2020 Dept of Home Affairs)

100

Australian visitors to Cuba (primary destination (2020 Dept of Home Affairs)

900

Resident Australian population born in Cuba (2016 Census)

726

Australian residents of Cuban descent (2016 Census)

1,108

Cuban students in Australia (2020 Dept of Education)

– 5

High level engagement

• 2018 – Cuban First Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, Marcelino Medina González, visited Australia.
• 2017 – Visit to Cuba by Former Australian Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop.

Agreements with Cuba

• June 2017 — MoU on regular diplomatic consultations
• Feb 2016 — MoU on sports cooperation
• Nov 2009 — MoU to enhance bilateral diplomatic engagement
• Jan 1995 — Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Sports
• Sept 1991 — MoU on migration related issues

Public diplomacy

Through the Direct Aid Program (DAP), the Australian Government supports projects coordinated by civil society, that empower women and girls, and advocate for the rights of indigenous communities, persons with disabilities and LGBTQI+ communities. DAP funds have also been used to help many of these disadvantaged groups recover from the economic impacts of COVID-19. The Australian Embassy in Mexico has hosted a number of webinars in collaboration with sponsored NGOs to highlight the outcomes of these projects. In 2020-21, funding is being provided to support education and health outcomes for Afro-Cuban communities in Havana.

Economic diplomacy

The Australian Government assists Australian investors in Cuba by providing support and advice on political, economic and regulatory environments through the Australian Embassy in Mexico City.

Economic and trade information can be found in our Economic Factsheet for Cuba.

Business

Export and investment opportunities exist for Australian businesses, particularly in energy and resources, pharmaceuticals and agriculture.

There is growing interest among Australian companies in the Cuban market. These include agribusiness, mining and energy, biotechnology, infrastructure and tourism.

The 2015 creation of the Australia-Cuba Business Council and the February 2016 business delegation visit, led by Special Envoy Andrew Robb, is indicative of the new opportunities and profile that Cuba represents to Australian business.

In 2017-2018, Cuba sent three business delegations to Australia to investigate potential areas for collaboration. As a result, Meat and Livestock Australia agreed to trial a cattle tick vaccine produced by Cuban SOE, BioCubaFarma.

Austrade’s Mexico City Office provides support to Australian companies in Cuba.

Austrade

• Austrade offices

Sanctions

We encourage businesses operating in Australia to obtain independent legal and financial advice regarding compliance with sanction regimes of other countries, and to discuss these matters with their financial institutions.

Comprehensive due diligence remains crucial for any Australian company seeking to do business overseas. We encourage Australian businesses to examine and take legal advice on implications of US sanctions. The US Office of Foreign Assets Control is responsible for administering United States sanctions, including by the issuance of Interpretative Guidance notes on request. It is the authoritative source of advice for businesses impacted by US sanction regimes.

Travel

• See Smartraveller for Information on travelling to Cuba

Australian Embassy in Mexico

Ruben Dario 55
Col. Polanco
Mexico City 11580
Tel: 52-55-11012200
General: australianembassy.mexico@dfat.gov.au
Facebook: Australia en México, Centroamérica, Cuba y República Dominicana
Twitter: @AusEmbMex

Last updated: October 2021