Bilateral relations Switzerland–Cuba

Bilateral relations with Cuba are good and stable. Switzerland has provided development cooperation since 2000 and regularly offers humanitarian aid in the context of natural disasters. Cuba is currently one of Switzerland's priority countries for development cooperation until 2024.

Key aspects of diplomatic relations

Switzerland and Cuba have been engaged in political consultations since 2006. The two countries have concluded agreements on trade, investment protection and promotion, air transport, and the transfer of sentenced persons. 

Switzerland is primarily active in Cuba in the field of development cooperation, where it will continue to implement its strategy until the end of 2024. In view of the imminent withdrawal of bilateral development cooperation, it is important to manage that change properly.

Treaty database

Cuban government website (es)

Economic cooperation

The Swiss-Cuban Chamber of Commerce promotes trade relations between the two countries, which are nonetheless modest. In 2022 Switzerland imported CHF 39.6 million worth of goods from Cuba, mainly agricultural products. Swiss exports to Cuba – mainly machinery, pharmaceutical and chemical products, and precision instruments – amounted to CHF 7.2 million.

Trade promotion, Switzerland Global Enterprise

Swiss-Cuban Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Development cooperation and humanitarian aid

Switzerland supports the efforts of Cuban society to further the nation's development in a peaceful and participatory manner on the basis of the social achievements that have been made to date. It promotes local initiatives that improve living conditions and strengthen institutions by means of practical measures, with a special focus on developing municipalities since 2011. Furthermore, Switzerland supports national strategies to promote local development in the areas of agriculture and housing. In 2021 Switzerland allocated about CHF 10.9 million to international cooperation in Cuba. In total, Switzerland invested more than CHF 64 million in Cuba as part of its 2017–21 cooperation strategy.

Development cooperation and humanitarian aid

Swiss nationals in Cuba

According to statistics on the Swiss abroad, there were 217 Swiss nationals living in Cuba at the end of 2022.

History of bilateral relations

When Cuba became an independent republic in 1902, Switzerland recognised the new republic and established diplomatic and consular relations. The first Swiss honorary consuls to Cuba were appointed in the 19th century. The Swiss consulate was established in 1918 and gradually upgraded to a full embassy in 1957.

Trade took place as far back as the 19th century and continued after the Cuban revolution in 1959.

Switzerland represented the United States' interests in Cuba from 1961 until the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries in July 2015. Switzerland also represented the interests of Cuba in the United States from 1991 to July 2015.

Cuba, Historical Dictionary of Switzerland (de, fr, it):

Diplomatic Documents of Switzerland, Dodis