Venezuela President in Ally Cuba ahead of Obama Visit
Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro moved Friday to ensure strong relations with his closest regional ally Cuba, two days before a historic visit by his biggest adversary, U.S. President Barack Obama.
Maduro landed early Friday morning at Havana airport, state television showed. State newspaper Granma said he was due to meet later with Cuba's President Raul Castro.
Maduro said they would sign various cooperation agreements and review "strategic elements" of their relations.
They would "make a proposal for a long-term vision for 2016 to 2030, including all economic, financial and energy collaboration, and stability in development of the region," he said.
Castro has overseen a historic rapprochement with Cuba's old enemy Washington, but he also continues to stand beside the socialist government in Venezuela, from where Cuba imports oil.
Caracas often accuses Washington of imperialist meddling in Latin America.
Maduro this week launched a fresh tirade against Washington, accusing Obama of seeking a "coup" in recession-stricken Venezuela.
Maduro's government is locked in a political struggle with the opposition, which is trying to oust him.
Tensions were fanned this month after Obama renewed a year-old U.S. decree categorizing Venezuela as a security threat.
In televised comments on Thursday, Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said Havana still had "big differences" with Washington over Venezuela.
He reiterated Cuba's "unrestricted and full solidarity" with Maduro and called for the security decree to be scrapped.
Obama arrives on Sunday and is scheduled to leave Cuba on Tuesday. He is the first U.S. president to visit the island in 88 years.
Source: Agence France Presse
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