This annotated chronology is based on the data sources that follow each entry. Public sources often provide conflicting information on classified military programs. In some cases we are unable to resolve these discrepancies, in others we have deliberately refrained from doing so to highlight the potential influence of false or misleading information as it appeared over time. In many cases, we are unable to independently verify claims. Hence in reviewing this chronology, readers should take into account the credibility of the sources employed here.

Inclusion in this chronology does not necessarily indicate that a particular development is of direct or indirect proliferation significance. Some entries provide international or domestic context for technological development and national policymaking. Moreover, some entries may refer to developments with positive consequences for nonproliferation.

1965
Cuba establishes the National Center for Scientific Research (CENIC) in order to further research in biomedicine and chemistry, training scientists and researchers for future leadership in Cuban biotechnology endeavors.
—Charles Cooper (ed.), Technology and Innovation in the International Economy (Maastricht, Holland: United Nations University Institute for New Technologies, 1994), <http://www.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/uu31te/uu31te00.htm>.

21 April 1976
Cuba ratifies the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC), making Cuba a State Party to the BTWC.
—"Chemical and biological weapons proliferation at a glance," Arms Control Association, September 2002, <http://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/cbwprolif.asp>.

1979
The National Center for Scientific Research forms the Genetic Engineering Group, a new division within the institution.
—Fidel Castro, "There will be weapons much more (II)," Granma Internacional (internet version), 14 May 2002, <http://www.granma.cu>.

1981
Fidel Castro forms the Biological Front, a separate policymaking body consisting of both scientists and government officials concerned with furthering biological research within Cuba. The Biological Front becomes crucial in the establishment of subsequent Cuban biotechnology centers.
—Charles Cooper (ed.), Technology and Innovation in the International Economy (Maastricht, Holland: United Nations University Institute for New Technologies, 1994), <http://www.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/uu31te/uu31te00.htm>.

21 May 1981
Manuel Limonta and his team of scientists produce Cuba's first synthetic interferon, marking Cuba's first significant achievement in the field of biotechnology and genetic engineering.

[Note: Ken Alibek, former deputy director of the Soviet Biopreparat, writes that Castro visited the Soviet Union in 1981, and was given "a strain of E. coli containing the plasmid used to produce interferon...along with equipment and working procedures." This, according to Alibek's sources, allowed Cuba to begin advanced biotechnology research.]
—Edward Cody, "Cuban researchers test interferon; Havana institute has used drug to treat 2,000 victims of cancer, other diseases," Washington Post, 4 August 1985; Ken Alibek and Stephen Handelman, Biohazard: The Chilling True Story of the Largest Covert Biological Weapons Program in the World (New York: Random House, 1999), pg. 273-277.

January 1982
The Center for Biological Research (CIB) is established under Castro's Biological Front in order to concentrate on the production of interferon.
—Charles Cooper (ed.), Technology and Innovation in the International Economy (Maastricht, Holland: United Nations University Institute for New Technologies, 1994), <http://www.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/uu31te/uu31te00.htm>.

16 March 1985
Juan Armando Montes, a Cuban-American US Army Officer, testifies to the US House Committee on International Relations about Cuban military capabilities. He asserts that Cuba has been involved in both terrorism and revolutionary movements within the Caribbean, Mexico, and the Americas, while the Cuban Directorate of Intelligence has become one of the most sophisticated intelligence agencies in the world. The armed forces have received training in chemical, nuclear, and biological warfare, described by an army officer who defected from Cuba in 1980. He claimed that Cuban teams were trained to infiltrate the United States to poison water supplies and infect rats and other animals with pathogens that cause anthrax, yellow fever, or cholera, among other diseases.
—"Prepared Statement of Juan Armando Montes, Colonel (retired), US Army Special Forces and Foreign Area Officer (FAD), Latin America, President of the Cuban American Veterans Assn, Member of the Cuban Unity Broad Opposition Front, House Committee on International Relations, Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere," Federal News Service, 16 March 1985.

July 1985
Fidel Castro announces that Cuba is already involved in genetic engineering in order to produce vaccines against diseases such as dengue. He discusses the role of the future Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology in "manufacturing medicine, increasing agricultural yields, and producing food" along with overall Cuban goals in the field of biochemistry and pharmaceuticals.
—Fidel Castro, "Ceremony: Bolivian health minister present," Havana Television Service, 3 July 1985, <http://www.lanic.utexas.edu/la/cb/cuba/castro.html>.

1986
Cuba imports high-grade microscopes and protein purification equipment from Japan.
—Gabriela Selser, "Cuba discovers biotechnology as a source of foreign exchange," Deutsche Presse-Agentur, 15 June 1999.

May 1986
The Defense Intelligence Agency publishes an overview of the Cuban armed forces, stating that the Cubans have "limited capabilities" to deploy biological agents. The Navy has one unit trained in nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) defense, but there is no information on NBC offense or defense on individual ships.
—"Handbook on the Cuban Armed Forces," Defense Intelligence Agency, May 1986.

1 July 1986
The Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB) is inaugurated, becoming Cuba's largest research center.
—Jose de la Fuente, "Wine into vinegar—the fall of Cuba's biotechnology," Nature Biotechnology, 19(10): 905-907, October 2001.

2 April 1987
Celia Conseca, UJC secretary general at the Laboratory Animals Supply Center (CENPALAB), discusses the necessity of completing the "Havana Work Center," which will be critical to the study of biotechnology.
—"Fifth UJC Conference," Havana Radio Network, 2 April 1987, <http://www.lanic.utexas.edu/la/cb/cuba/castro.html>.

18 January 1989
Radio Luxembourg, citing Israeli intelligence sources, reports that West German, East German, and Cuban scientists have assisted Iraq in establishing a germ warfare plant south of Baghdad.
—"Bonn again revises line on Libyan chemical plant; Firms raided; New charges surface," Facts on File World News Digest, 27 January 1989.

19 January 1989
A member of the West German parliament calls for an investigation into reports that West and East Germans, along with Cubans, were involved in the operations of an Iraqi biological weapons plant. The plant, 30 miles from Baghdad, is reported to produce weapons using pathogens such as those causing cholera, anthrax, and typhoid, and was assisted by bacteriologists from Cuba and East Germany.
—"Governments says Libya may be planning biological weapons research," Associated Press, 19 January 1989.

28 February 1989
Castro inaugurates the Ibero-American Neurological Center for Transplants and Rehabilitation, with equipment and space acquired from the National Scientific Research Center (CENIC), which was the first research center developed under Castro. He states that the greatest concern for Cuba is how well the different scientific research centers on the island can "cooperate with each other."
—Fidel Castro, "Inauguration: Ibero-American Neurological Center," Television Cubana Network, 28 February 1989, <http://www.lanic.utexas.edu/la/cb/cuba/castro.html>.

4 April 1989
Mikhail Gorbachev visits the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, speaking with Manuel Limonta, director of the center. Castro emphasizes continued collaboration between Cuban and the Soviet science academies, as Gorbachev stresses the need for scientific exchange between the two countries.
—"Gorbachev visits sites of social interest in Cuba," Xinhua News Agency, 4 April 1989.

1990
Yuri Kalinin, head of the Soviet's Biopreparat, travels to Cuba to discuss a new biotechnology plant. The Soviet Union, through the initiative of Biopreparat, negotiates the sale of dual-use production equipment to Cuba.
—Ken Alibek and Stephen Handelman, Biohazard: The Chilling True Story of the Largest Covert Biological Weapons Program in the World (New York: Random House, 1999), pp. 273-277; "Prepared Testimony of Dr. Kenneth Alibek, Chief Scientist at Hadron, Inc, before the House Armed Services Committee, Military Procurement Subcommittee, and Military Research and Development Subcommittee," Federal News Service, 20 October 1999.

1990
Cuba begins exporting their biomedical products, as Castro starts to promote Cuban biotechnology throughout South America.
—Fidel Castro, "There will be weapons much more (II)," Granma Internacional (internet version), 14 May 2002, <http://www.granma.cu>.

22 January 1990
Castro discusses the priority given to the biotechnology industry, as this industry is of great interest to the country's "health" and economy. He emphasizes the need to increase productivity, not by increasing the number of workers, but by focusing on the output of each worker.
—Fidel Castro, "Science Day ceremony speech," Cubavision Television, 22 January 1990, <http://www.lanic.utexas.edu/la/cb/cuba/castro.html>.

15 June 1990
At a hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Jesse Helms asserts that the "Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta use the regular mail service to send some of the world's deadliest viruses to Iraq, to communist China to Cuba and the Soviet Union....Nobody bothered to even tell the centers that all of these countries are developing germ warfare weapons."
—"Hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Subject: US-Iraq relations," Federal News Service, 15 June 1990.

13 November 1990
Fidel Castro comments on a new variety of sugarcane produced in the laboratory, reported to yield 20 to 22 percent more sugar than natural varieties. This type of biotechnology is reportedly also being used to develop strains of bananas and potatoes.
—Fidel Castro, "Castro comments on domestic, foreign affairs," Tele Rebelde Network, 13 November 1990, <http://www.lanic.utexas.edu/la/cb/cuba/castro.html>.

1991
The Carlos J. Finlay Serum and Vaccine Institute opens for production, along with the Center for Molecular Immunology (CIM); both become involved in medical and biotechnology research and development.
—Patricia Grogg, "Vaccine may open window in US blockade," Inter Press Service, 28 July 1999; Patricia Grogg, "New hope in fight against cancer," Inter Press Service, 11 March 2002.

March 1991
Korean People's Army Chief of the General Staff, Ch'oe Kwang, visits the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology. This raises concern that North Korea and Cuba could be cooperating in the area of biotechnology.
—Joseph S. Bermudez Jr, "Exposing the North Korean BW arsenal," Jane's Intelligence Review, 10(08), 1 August 1998.

1992
The Cuban Democracy Act allows US firms to sell medical equipment and medicine to Cuba, but bans exports that might be used in Cuban biotechnology research, thus forcing US merchants to track their products to the end-users. This end-use monitoring can be undertaken by a variety of NGOs or other organizations approved by the Department of Commerce.
—"Medical sales to Cuba," Fact Sheet, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs: US Department of State, 7 September 2001.

20 February 1992
In a speech to the Academy of Sciences, Fidel Castro emphasizes the importance of patriotism and dedication in scientific researchers. He also discusses the work of the agricultural sciences, stating that they are concentrating on the production of azotobacter. Although the production of azotobacters requires fermentation, Castro states that Cuba has a "tremendous fermentation capacity."
—Fidel Castro, "Castro speaks to the Academy of Sciences," Radio Rebelde Network, 21 February 1992, <http://www.lanic.utexas.edu/la/cb/cuba/castro.html>.

28 March 1992
Fidel Castro addresses the Science Workers Congress stating that science is the most important endeavor for a socialist country, and the "great advantage of socialism" is that "we [Cuba] keep our secrets here." Castro emphasizes that science within Cuba has advanced with indigenous technology, even as many technicians and workers were trained in other socialist countries.
—Fidel Castro, "Castro addresses Science Workers Congress," Cubavision Television, Havana, 30 March 1992, <http://www.lanic.utexas.edu/la/cb/cuba/castro.html>.

5 June 1992
In an interview with Tomas Borge of Nicaragua, Fidel Castro states that the current priorities of Cuba rest within the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries along with production of medical equipment. He continues that the most important products manufactured thus far are the meningitis B vaccine, epidermal growth factor, and streptokinase. Biotechnology is also producing new varieties of plants, as well as biopesticides.
—Tomas Borge, "Interview with Fidel Castro," El Nuevo Diario, 5 June 1992, <http://www.lanic.utexas.edu/la/cb/cuba/castro.html>.

January 1993
Castro announces that a new plant (number 3) will soon be completed at the Finlay Institute, to be involved in production of the meningitis B vaccine. The second plant is also on schedule to be completed, corresponding with the completion of the Pedro Kouri Institute of Tropical Medicine.
—"World Trade News in Brief," Pharma Marketletter, 26 January 1993.

5 August 1993
Edward Gonzalez, consultant for the RAND Corporation, states that "Cuba watchers" have been informed that a biological weapons program could exist within Cuba. Cuba has the biological infrastructure and technology for such a program, and has maintained trade with both Iran and Iraq, countries suspected of having their own BW programs. Gonzalez states, "...given these ties [with Iran and Iraq] it's a definite possibility that (Cuban president) Fidel Castro will attempt to get a high return on his biotechnology investments." Rep. Robert Menendez (D-N.J), member of the House Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere Affairs, said that sources, "not external to Cuba...believe that such a program is being developed 'with the cooperation of Mideast nations known for their acts of terrorism'."
—Armando Trull, "Cuba suspected of developing biological weapons," United Press International, 5 August 1993.

4 October 1993
Vietnam is hoping to negotiate the purchase of 50,000 doses of hepatitis B vaccine from Cuba along with other medical equipment.
—"Vietnam Purchase," Pharma Marketletter, 4 October 1993.

29 October 1993
Speaking to the Microbiology Congress, Fidel Castro discusses his suspicions as to the origin of the Cuban dengue outbreak, and states that it is now Cuba's "responsibility" to focus on the healthcare sector. He continues, "We began to carry out all sorts of research of every type so long as it proved useful to our country, to our development."
—Fidel Castro, "Castro addresses Microbiology Congress," Radio Rebelde Network, 30 October 1993, <http://www.lanic.utexas.edu/la/cb/cuba/castro.html>.

2 December 1993
La Fabriquita (Little Factory), also known as the Animal Feed Plant, is inaugurated and the true purpose of the facility immediately comes into question, as defectors claim that only those with a high-level military clearance can enter the compound. According to Insight on the News, Italian-manufactured centrifuge equipment, along with other sensitive laboratory equipment, was transferred to Cuba via a Panama-registered ship crewed by Cuban naval personnel for use in this plant. The equipment was primarily acquired from Comi-Condor, a company close to Milan, reportedly involved in sales to Libya as well.
—Martin Arostegui, "Fidel Castro's deadly secret; Castro's biological- and chemical-weapons arsenal," Insight on the News, 14(26): 7, 20 July 1998; Maria C. Werlau, "Does Cuba have biochemical weapons?" Cuba: Assessing the Threat to US Security (Miami: The Endowment for Cuban American Studies, 2001), pp. 99-128; Agustin Blazquez, "Cuba, Castro, and bioterrorism," Medical Sentinel, Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, 6(4), pp. 118-120, 2001.

	Updated October 2007