MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Swire, first Foreign Office minister to visit Cuban in almost ten years
United Kingdom Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire has become the first UK Minister to visit Cuba in almost ten years. His three-day time in the country included meetings with senior government figures and others to discuss bilateral relations including trade and investment. He will also raise UK concerns about the human rights situation. Read full article
Comments
Disclaimer & comment rulesvery active chappie this Swire, isn't he? Must have more stamps in his passport than your average philatelist has in his favourite album.
Nov 01st, 2014 - 10:35 am - Link - Report abuse 0Further example of British 'soft power' and influence in the region.
Cuba welcomes about 2.5 milliion tourists each year. This is a vital source of foreign currency. For all the socialist tub-thumping little Raul knows he needs to keep some people sweet whilst his puppet Mas-buro is destroying Venezuela.
I don't know how to translate “manotazo de ahogado”, that means when someone is desperate because of constantly losing any possibility of having support in a region that condemns the english as colonialists. Soft power? Too soft and … which power? Decaying britannia
Nov 01st, 2014 - 12:20 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I don't know how to translate your 'English'.
Nov 01st, 2014 - 12:54 pm - Link - Report abuse 02/10
@2. The 'power' that can launch 200 cruise missiles before reloading. Or 672 100 kt nuclear warheads. Deploy over 200 combat aircraft. And the most professional and capable ground forces in the world. 'SEAL Team Six' and 'Delta Force' learn from ordinary British units. The Royal Marines, SAS and SBS are so far beyond.
Nov 01st, 2014 - 04:31 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Be scared. Be very, very scared. RAF Voyagers can land 300 troops, with equipment, and refuel other aircraft en-route. And what else can do that? Three Voyagers move 900 fully-equipped troops and refuel an entire Typhoon squadron en-route.
Want to imagine your 'country' burning?
@2
Nov 01st, 2014 - 04:41 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The United Kingdom has the 6th-largest national economy in the world (and 3rd-largest in Europe, and soon to be 2nd) measured by nominal GDP and 10th-largest in the world (and 3rd-largest in Europe) measured by purchasing power parity (PPP).
To misquote Mark Twain; “The reports of [our] demise are greatly exaggerated. ”
that condemns the english as colonialists
Nov 01st, 2014 - 07:40 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Prove it,
you guys still live in the stone age..
@6 Briton
Nov 01st, 2014 - 08:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I take it your remark was aimed at #2 ?
“ Soft power? Too soft and … which power? Decaying britannia”
I don't see too much of Lat Am countries involved in global politics/global decision making.
Both Argentina and Venezuela have the the land, the natural resources and the ability to become major players.
This is what I wish for. That their people could enjoy a great quality of life. That their politicians could be taken seriously.
Sadly this is not the case.
What a waste.
I am saddened by this state of affairs.
At least the UK is involved in a positive aspect.
This should be welcomed.
http://www.chevening.org/
Does the equivalent exist in ALBA countries?
@7 ilsen
Nov 01st, 2014 - 08:47 pm - Link - Report abuse 0yes it was for number two,
cheers.
@8
Nov 01st, 2014 - 09:21 pm - Link - Report abuse 0understood, loud and clear, Sir!
:-)
Mr Swire is an asset to the nation. IMHO.
@2 Alejomartinez : I suppose you call this diplomacy ?
Nov 02nd, 2014 - 12:21 pm - Link - Report abuse 0CFK making a complete fool of herself in Angola 2 years ago with her patronising largesse .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWGuwb09a_4
Those of you that do speak spanish please watch this , you will wet yourselves laughing .
Of course , the really sad thing is all the things she promised the Angolans never actually arrived ... That is really bad diplomacy .
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