Putin Gets Rare Praise for His War With the West

Russian ally Cuba recently vocalized its support of Russia by expressing distaste at the actions of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

NATO has sent aid to Ukraine throughout the war. NATO member countries, such as the United States, also have funneled weapons, ammunition, supplies, equipment, financial aid and other defense mechanisms to Ukraine to aid in the fight against Russia. The treaty organization also deployed troops to Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel praised the war on Tuesday during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and accused NATO of encroaching on Russia's borders with its actions.

Following a missile strike earlier this month in Poland that killed two—the first attack from the war on NATO soil—NATO acknowledged the missile was likely from Ukraine but maintained its support of the country by blaming Russia for the incident. As the war escalates, Cuba maintains its stance as a Russian ally by condemning NATO's actions, according to an article published by Russian media TASS. Diaz-Canel criticized NATO for involving itself in extraterritorial wars to be deemed as a rescuer.

NATO has long claimed that it would protect its members if provoked and claims any advancement is defense in nature on its website. Diaz-Canel sees NATO's involvement differently. He spoke strongly against the treaty organization while visiting with Putin on Tuesday.

However, Evan Ellis believes the meeting to be more bravado than praise for Putin. Ellis is a research professor of Latin American studies at the U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute and a senior nonresident fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The meeting between Diaz-Canel and Putin could have been organized to show the public that Russia is not isolated in its war against Ukraine, Ellis told Newsweek.

During the meeting, Diaz-Canel adopted "friendly Russian talking points" that Putin has long used even before the Ukraine war, according to Ellis, such as blaming NATO for its "encroachment" on Russian sovereignty. Ellis said Russia adopted the same rhetoric during the Cold War.

In his meeting with Putin, Diaz-Canel accused NATO of "expand[ing] toward Russia's borders" and labeling the actions as "simply unacceptable." Diaz-Canel also spoke out against the sanctions imposed against Russia. He referenced the economic embargo imposed on Cuba by the U.S. The talking point could be a way to unite with Russia against a shared experience, as Russia is under strict NATO sanctions. The shared complaint unites the two countries against NATO and the West and, according to Ellis, sends the message that Russia is not isolated in its war against Ukraine.

"Both leaders want to show common bonds because both leaders want to show through the other that they are not isolated," Ellis said.

Through the economic restrictions and NATO's proximity to Russia, Diaz-Canal said that his nation shares the "Yankee Empire" as an enemy with Russia.

He went on to say Cuba would continue to support Russia by condemning the sanctions since Moscow supported Havana during its struggle for independence.