Cuba Neighbouring Countries on the Map
Cuba’s Neighbors Overview
Snuggled in the Caribbean, Cuba’s surrounded by a vibrant mix of nations, each one adding a splash of color to the island’s cultural and historical party. Grasping who’s nearby can help make sense of the chit-chat and dance-offs between Cuba and its next-door pals.
Proximity to Other Nations
Cuba’s neighbors? Here’s the lineup: United States, Bahamas, Mexico, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. This gang hangs out in the Greater Antilles and West Indies, an area alive with the echoes of early plantation life and rich ethnic blends.
| Country | Distance from Cuba (miles) |
|---|---|
| United States (Key West, Florida) | 103 |
| Bahamas | 50 |
| Mexico (Yucatán Peninsula) | 130 |
| Cayman Islands | 135 |
| Jamaica | 87 |
| Haiti | 48 |
| Dominican Republic | 93 |
United States: Just a quick 103-mile trek north, with the U.S. playing a pivotal role in Cuba’s past — especially in that 1898 Spanish-American War showdown.
Bahamas: A hop and a skip, roughly 50 miles northeast, the Bahamas share a watery border with Cuba.
Mexico: Swing west for about 130 miles to find the Yucatán Peninsula, knitting close cultural and historical ties with Cuba.
Cayman Islands: Cozy 135-mile neighbor to the south, with shared stories and histories.
Jamaica: Glide south about 87 miles to hit Jamaica, another link in the Caribbean chain sharing cultural footprints.
Haiti: Practically next-door at 48 miles east, Haiti has been intertwined with Cuba’s story as part of the Greater Antilles.
Dominican Republic: Chill out 93 miles east and you’ve got the Dominican Republic, sharing Hispaniola with Haiti, rounding out the neighborly ties.
Wanna dig into who’s next to other spots? Check these out:
- Bahamas Neighbouring Countries
- Mexico Neighbouring Countries
- Dominican Republic Neighbouring Countries
Cuba’s spot on the map shapes its friendly (or not-so-friendly) chats with neighbors, weaving a rich cultural narrative and laying down a diverse dance floor for exchanges.
Neighboring Countries of Cuba
Floating in the northern Caribbean, where the warm Caribbean Sea mingles with the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic, Cuba is surrounded by a quilt of nations. This vibrant locale is enriched by its mingling with neighbors. Let’s see who’s paddling around Cuba.
United States
Up north sits the United States, just a stone’s throw across the Florida Straits. Back in 1898, American forces gave Spain the heave-ho out of Cuba (National Geographic Kids). These two are quite the close pair, separated by just about 90 miles of salty sea.
| Neighbor | Direction | Distance (Miles) |
|---|---|---|
| United States | North | 90 |
Bahamas
Over to the northeast is the Bahamas, a cluster of about 700 islands. With barely 50 miles keeping them apart, Cuba and the Bahamas swap more than just sunshine, creating shared cultural and trade ties.
| Neighbor | Direction | Distance (Miles) |
|---|---|---|
| Bahamas | Northeast | 50 |
Mexico
Peering out from Cuba’s western side is Mexico, with the Yucatan Channel breaking them up. Around 130 miles of water separates these two buddies, but they’ve got deep connections rooted in history and economics.
| Neighbor | Direction | Distance (Miles) |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico | West | 130 |
Cayman Islands
The azure waters south of Cuba lead straight to the Cayman Islands, under the wing of British rule and famous for their financial scene. At around 150 miles away, they have a seat in the economic room of the region.
| Neighbor | Direction | Distance (Miles) |
|---|---|---|
| Cayman Islands | South | 150 |
Jamaica
Southward again, Jamaica sits as Cuba’s cultural kin, sharing all sorts of Afro-Caribbean flavors and historical echoes. They’re not too far apart—just a hop, skip, and a splash, about 90 miles.
| Neighbor | Direction | Distance (Miles) |
|---|---|---|
| Jamaica | South | 90 |
Haiti
To the southeast, Haiti stretches its arms from the island of Hispaniola towards Cuba. With only 50 miles of ocean between, these folks have traded stories, goods, and culture for many moons.
| Neighbor | Direction | Distance (Miles) |
|---|---|---|
| Haiti | Southeast | 50 |
Dominican Republic
Further along, nestled with Haiti on Hispaniola, is the Dominican Republic. Locked in a dance with Cuba from 145 miles away, these nations enjoy lively exchanges and joint ventures.
| Neighbor | Direction | Distance (Miles) |
|---|---|---|
| Dominican Republic | Southeast | 145 |
Each of these neighbors plays their part in Cuba’s colorful tapestry of culture, economy, and politics. If you’re curious about who’s friends with the Bahamas, Colombia, or Costa Rica, check out our articles on their neighbors at bahamas neighboring countries, colombia neighboring countries, and costa rica neighboring countries.
Geographic Context of Cuba
Getting a grip on Cuba’s geographic setup opens the door to understanding its strategic spot and quirky features, especially when comparing it with nearby places.
Cuban Islands
Cuba kicks it as part of the Greater Antilles in the West Indies, chilling south of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. It’s cozied up along Venezuela’s north coast on the South American mainland (Britannica). Toss the main island into the mix, and Cuba’s rocking over 4,000 islands and cays surrounding the country. Check out some of the prominent ones shaking up Cuba’s landscape:
| Island/Cay | Note |
|---|---|
| Main Island | Big kahuna of the islands, holding most of Cuba. |
| Isla de la Juventud | Second in line, famous for getting you back to nature. |
| Cayo Largo del Sur | Tourist trap with beaches you dream about. |
| Cayo Coco | Another tourist magnet in the Jardines del Rey chain. |
Archipelagos Surrounding Cuba
Cuba’s wrapped around by several major archipelagos, each bringing its own flair to the country’s mix of geography and ecosystems.
Sabana-Camagüey Archipelago
Stretching along the northern coast, the Sabana-Camagüey Archipelago is home to about 2,517 cays and islands. It stands out for its rich wildlife and jaw-dropping scenery.
Jardines de la Reina
Off the southern shores, Jardines de la Reina, or “Gardens of the Queen,” pays homage to Queen Isabella of Spain. It’s buzzing with marine life, luring in eco-tourists and divers alike.
Canarreos Archipelago
This one’s hugging the south too, with Isla de la Juventud being the main star. It spices up Cuba’s coastal geography and houses a range of ecosystems.
Grasping the plat of these islands and archipelagos gives a fuller view of Cuba’s setup. If you’re itching for more on nearby countries and their geography, dive into pieces like bahamas neighboring countries or mexico neighboring countries.
Relations of Cuba with Other Nations
Diplomatic Ties with South Korea
Cuba and South Korea decided to hit the diplomatic dance floor together on February 14, 2024. Can’t make this stuff up, right? Sixty-five years after giving each other the cold shoulder on official ties, they’ve now embraced. But hey, it wasn’t just a dead silence before then. South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy did a little recon and sent mobile generators to help juice up Cuba’s fading power grids. One of these big ol’ generators, the PPS, even strutted its stuff on the 10 Cuban convertible peso banknote. It’s like their own little VIP cameo! If you’re curious about Cuba’s social scene in the region, slide over to our section on Afghanistan neighboring countries.
Relationship with the United Kingdom
Britain and Cuba have been pen pals since May 20, 1902. Yeah, that’s a pretty long correspondence by anyone’s standards, right? As roommates in the World Trade Organization, they’ve shaken hands over an Investment Agreement and a Political Dialogue and Co-operation Agreement. But despite all this, they’ve only managed to stick two treaties on their shared fridge door: One about extradition and another, well, we can only imagine. If you’re the nosy neighbor type and want to read about other global pals, venture into our bit on Albania neighboring countries.
Strained Relations with Israel
Now, for a less cozy story: Cuban-Israeli relations have been the awkward elephant in the room since the ’60s. Cuba said “Hey” to Israel de facto on April 18, 1949. Yet, the friendship went sour when Cuba threw its support behind Arab nations around the 1967-70 War of Attrition. Talk about complicated friendships, huh? There was a glimmer of hope in 2010 when Fidel Castro, after stepping down, gave a nod to Israel’s existence. Wanna gossip more? Check out Algeria neighboring countries.
History with Mexico
The Cuba and Mexico story arc sounds like a soap opera. There’s history, drama, apologies. Remember Fidel Castro’s foot-in-the-mouth moment in 1998? And then Mexican Prez Vicente Fox played the classic “Sorry-not-sorry” in 2002 when he asked Castro to leave a UN summit. Oooh, the tension. But just like in any good drama, by 2014 the air cleared when Mexico’s own Enrique Peña Nieto popped over to Cuba. Craving more juicy regional stories? We’ve got Antigua and Barbuda neighboring countries on offer.
Diplomatic Connections with Panama
Cuba and Panama had a brief fling break but got back together in March 2009. The 2004 split was due to a ruckus over a pardon. Then, just like in a romance flick, their foreign ministers met up in Havana in a feel-good reuniting moment. It was all about that brotherly love this time. For the curious and the comparers, drop by our Argentina neighboring countries spot for more
So, to stitch it all together, playing the field geopolitically? Yep, Cuba’s quite the social butterfly. Dive into more stories about country squads and how they mingle by hopping over to intriguing reads like Australia neighboring countries.
