Recently, South Korean media reported that the government delegation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Korea is visiting Cuba, aiming to reach an agreement with the Cuban side on the permanent embassies and consulates of the two sides.
The agreement will pave the way for the opening of the Korean embassy in Cuba as soon as possible.
Even though the embassy has not officially opened due to time constraints, the South Korean side has decided to open a temporary office in Havana, the capital of Cuba, so that embassy staff can work as soon as possible.
Cuba has been subjected to hostility and blockade by the United States since the success of the 1959 revolution, and this situation has lasted for more than 60 years.
Almost every year, the United Nations General Assembly passes resolutions demanding that the United States lift sanctions against Cuba, but this situation has not changed for a long time.
However, in February last year, Korea and Cuba officially established diplomatic relations through consultations between the permanent missions of the two countries to the United Nations.
Korea s decision to establish diplomatic ties with Cuba was actually driven by the necessity of consideration.
In the past two years, South Koreans have suddenly found that in terms of battery raw materials, the core components of new energy vehicles, Korean companies have a very high dependence on China's raw materials.
For example, the import dependence on battery precursors has risen to 90% from 2018 to 2021, while the dependence on artificial graphite anode materials has also reached 80% to 90%.
The United States has been pressuring South Korea in recent years to block and suppress China in the semiconductor sector.
If South Korea takes action, China will inevitably take countermeasures.
South Korea's biggest concern is that China may take retaliatory measures against it in terms of battery raw materials, which is a heavy blow that South Korea cannot afford.
According to a report by the Korea Institute of Energy Economics in early March, with the expansion of electric vehicles and wind power generation in South Korea, the demand for core minerals such as lithium and nickel will increase significantly by 2040.
According to the report, by 2040, the demand for lithium in South Korea will increase 15-fold, the demand for nickel will increase 12-fold, the demand for cobalt will increase 19-fold, and the demand for manganese will increase four-fold.
Demand for the core minerals needed for wind turbines will also increase significantly.
As a result, the South Korean government released a "Core Minerals Securing strategy" two years ago, aiming to reduce South Korea's dependence on 33 core minerals from China to 50 percent by 2030.
These include 10 strategic core minerals such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, graphite and rare earth, as they are essential for semiconductors, secondary batteries and new energy vehicles.
The Korean government is eager to establish diplomatic ties with Cuba and plans to explore mineral resources in Cuba because of the country's abundant nickel and cobalt resources.
Nickel is a key material in batteries, and cobalt is widely used in the production of lithium-ion batteries.
Therefore, South Korea hopes to reduce its dependence on China and ensure its energy security through cooperation with Cuba.
Whether South Korea's plan will succeed, however, is far from certain.
Although the South Korean government claims that it has informed the United States of its upcoming plan to establish diplomatic relations with Cuba and won the respect of the United States, the United States continues to impose sanctions and blockade on Cuba.
Even if South Korea is able to successfully exploit Cuba's mineral resources, there will still be obstacles in how to transport and settle these resources due to U.S. sanctions.
South Korea's investment plans in Cuba have certain risks, but in the face of the current international situation and its own development needs, South Korea has to take action to ensure its energy security and economic development.
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