Vienna, September 16, 2026 – Cuba’s Minister of Science, Technology, and the Environment, Dr. Armando Rodríguez Batista, met Wednesday with the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Mariano Grossi, on the sidelines of the Agency’s 70th General Conference, which is being held in Vienna from September 14 to 18.
During the meeting, the two officials discussed the status of cooperation between Cuba and the IAEA, as well as the country’s main priorities regarding the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, with an emphasis on human health. The Cuban minister acknowledged the Agency’s support for national efforts in these areas and reiterated Cuba’s willingness to continue strengthening technical cooperation and scientific exchange with the IAEA and its Member States, despite the negative impact of the U.S. economic, commercial, and financial blockade against the country exacerbated by the sanctions imposed in 2026, particularly the energy blockade.
The Director General of the IAEA, for his part, commended Cuba’s active role in the Agency’s initiatives, particularly its contribution to NUTEC Plastics and the establishment at the Cienfuegos Center for Environmental Studies (CEAC) of a regional center for monitoring plastics in marine ecosystems. He also reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to supporting Cuba’s efforts in the fight against cancer through its “Rays of Hope” initiative, establishing a level of cooperation that aligns with national priorities and interests.
(EmbaCubaAustria)
