With warships stationed in Havana, Putin strikes energy and military deals, strengthening a potential Cuban-Russian alliance
Vladimir Putin decided to renew cooperation with Cuba. He has sent his ships there for alleged exercises and promised Havana assistance in the energy sector.
According to the Argentine portal Infobae on Saturday, Russia has promised Cuba assistance in restoring its capability to produce electricity. This issue has disrupted economic activity on the island and sparked protests.
This is signalled to be another sign of tightening the alliance between Moscow and Havana.
Sergey Tsivilev, the Russian Minister of Energy, committed to assisting Cuba. He met in Moscow with the Cuban Deputy Prime Minister, Ricardo Cabrisas, reports Infobae, citing official statements from the Russian Ministry of Energy.
The statements also announced an intensification of cooperation in the field of oil and gas.
Russian ships in port
Four Russian warships are currently stationed in Cuba, including a nuclear submarine and a frigate. Their presence near US territory is interpreted as a show of force in response to American aid to Ukraine.
On Friday, the Cuban regime criticised the G7 leaders' decision to grant Ukraine a loan of £41 billion. The loan will be repaid from the interest generated by frozen Russian state assets.
Despite official pacifist and anti-imperialist rhetoric and traditional friendship with Ukraine, Cuba has echoed Kremlin arguments since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In particular, it has accused the United States and the West of causing the conflict and fuelling it through arms supplies to Kyiv.
