A magyar-kubai diplomáciai kapcsolatok létrejöttének sajátos fordulatai
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Date
2018
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Abstract
This study analyzes the ups and downs in the development of Hungarian-Cuban diplomatic relations following the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. In 1959, the year of the victory of the Cuban Revolution, Hungarian foreign policy focused primarily on Asia and Africa, as the colonial liberation struggles there provided an opportunity for the Soviet Union and the socialist countries to get their foot in the countries of these two continents. However, in the spring of 1956, following the negotiation of a councilor of the Budapest Soviet embassy at the Foreign Ministry, it became clear for the Hungarian foreign policy makers that Moscow considered Latin America as a desirable target and wanted to use the former Hungarian diplomatic ties to realize the idea. The Soviet intention was readily served by Hungary, and the Political Committee of the MDP decided in the first half of 1956 that Hungary should establish diplomatic ties with Mexico, Brazil and Uruguay. The question of the establishment of relations failed in October 1956, and from then on, Latin America meant a political landscape for Hungary, where it continued to refuse to overcome the international, echo of the defeat of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution expressed through the loud rejection of the legitimacy of the Kádár government. Following the rapid deterioration of US-Cuban relations, the Cuban government proposed to Hungary to establish diplomatic relations. Hungary, however, was only moderately interested in the opportunity offered but eventually accepted Soviet "guidance" and overwhelmed by its own ideas, Hungarian foreign policy changed and supported the Soviet Union in getting its foot in Cuba, in the neighborhood of its big rival, the United States.