Science under Sanctions: Cuba’s Experience

An important factor in the development of Cuban science and its internationalization is cooperation with the United States, which is associated with the geographical proximity of the two countries and the coincidence of the topics of scientific research. The purpose of the article is to conceptually understand the dialectical contradiction between the complex embargo regime, reflecting the US policy towards Cuba, and the degree of intensity of scientific cooperation between these countries. The research methodology covers event analysis, comparative and historical methods, as well as a systems approach. A conceptual picture of the implementation of scientific diplomacy is presented, designed to maintain and develop scientific cooperation between the two countries despite the embargo, due to which relative stability of the scientific partnership became possible. The study made it possible to identify the main characteristics of Cuba’s experience in relation to the situation of external pressure on its science. A provision is formulated that the regime of unilateral restrictive measures against Cuban science does not imply the «cancellation» of Cuban science, as is the case with unfriendly sanctions against Russian science in 2022–2024. However, the alternation of weakening and strengthening of the embargo regime by the United States remains an unfavorable factor for the development of Cuban science.