Inside the Ring: Russia boosts Cuba ties

The Washington Times ^ | July 31, 2013 | Bill Gertz

[SatinDoll]

The Russian military recently dispatched a guided-missile warship to Cuba as part of what U.S. officials say are growing military, intelligence and economic ties between Moscow and Havana.

[snip]

“The cruiser Moskva and the large seagoing tanker Ivan Bubnov set off for Havana..."

[snip]

After Havana, the warship will visit Caracas, Venezuela; Managua, Nicaragua; and Praia Port in the Cape Verde Islands off eastern Africa.

The visit to Cuba is part of what the U.S. officials said is a push by Moscow to boost relations with Cuba in the military, energy and transportation sectors.

The effort was kicked off in February when Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev announced that Moscow is canceling most of Cuba’s Soviet-era debt, estimated at close to $30 billion, while he denounced the U.S. embargo against the communist island nation.

The closer ties also appear related to Russian efforts to maintain influence in the region after the death of leftist Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez and the expected retirement of Cuban President Raul Castro in the coming months.

[snip]

During the Soviet period, the Russians operated a large electronic spying facility at Lourdes, near Havana, that was capable of intercepting most U.S. communications in the southeastern United States. It was less than 100 miles off the coast of Key West.

Now there are signs that the Russians want to return to Lourdes for more electronic spying.

The Russians also are assisting the Cubans economically with offshore oil prospecting, plans for a new international airport near Havana and deliveries of Russian passenger jets.

The warship visit follows Panama’s recent seizure of a North Korean freighter covertly ferrying Soviet-made missiles and aircraft from Cuba to North Korea, in apparent violation of U.N. sanctions on Pyongyang over its missile and nuclear tests.

[SatinDoll]

Oh, goody! Putin is going to send airliners, and in general help boost the Cuban economy. It will surely drain Russia's Treasury helping a communist government.

As we all know, that didn't turn out so well the last time around!

[Mark17]

The Russian military recently dispatched a guided-missile warship to Cuba as part of what U.S. officials say are growing military, intelligence and economic ties between Moscow and Havana.

I wonder if they will bring missiles into Cuba? Oh wait, they tried that before, but this time, they are dealing with Odumbo, and I am sure he will be more flexible about missiles in Cuba than Kennedy was.

[freeangel]

Oh, my—it’s duck and cover all over again.

[StormEye]

"I wonder if they will bring missiles into Cuba?

They'll probably bring missiles into Key West after Obongo gives it to the Cubans.