Russian parliament’s defense committee head announced that the country is “assessing” the feasibility of a military base in Cuba, potentially as part of a response to U.S. withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, stating “now the active phase of impact assessment is under way, and proposals will be prepared with estimates. I do no exclude the possibility that this issue will be touched upon at the upcoming meeting with the Cuban leader in Moscow.” Cuba is less than 100 miles from the Florida coast and served as one of the greatest Cold War flashpoints in the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. While the Russian comments are likely non-substantive, the debate over a Russian base in Cuba could be used as a political tool and bargaining chip by Russia and the U.S.
Source: Russia ‘assessing’ military base in Cuba as US leaves INF treaty | Asia Times
