Abstract:

The beginning of the relations between Turkey and Cuba can be traced to Ottoman era, especially to the time being when immigration occurred from Arab geography to the region, most particularly to Cuba. The grandchildren of those holding Ottoman passport are still referred to as “El Turco” in the region. Throughout the course of Cuba’s independence, the Ottomans were very interested in this country yet the United States as being dominant in the region, did not allow this rapprochement. Since 1960’s, as Cuba closing itself to the capitalist world and the United States imposing an embargo, the relations had prevented from advancement. Cuba stayed as a distance and mysterious country to Turkey for several years. Starting with 1980’s and developing with Turkey’s Latin America reforms post- Cold War compromise the main focus of this paper. The study will question the advancement of relations between two countries from political, economic and cultural aspects, meanwhile expectations and prospects for the future will also be mentioned.

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