HAVANA — Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has flown to Cuba for a meeting on the countries’ economic ties two days before Barack Obama becomes the first U.S. president to visit the island in nearly 90 years.
Maduro said the two countries would be reviewing their economic ties and “organizing our plans for cooperation.” Venezuelan and Cuban officials offered no details of Friday’s agenda, but Venezuela is struggling with a deep economic crisis.
Venezuela has been sending hundreds of millions of dollars in oil to Cuba each year in exchange for Cuba sending teams of doctors and other state workers to bolster Venezuelan government efforts.
Venezuela’s relations with the U.S. remain tense even as Cuba works with the Obama administration to normalize ties.